Warming up for our thrilling Liga MX Apertura matchup, it's Cruz Azul against Mazatlán FC. Now, this isn't just a game of spin the bottle, people, it's a game where numbers actually matter.
Casting light on our net-minders, for Mazatlán FC, we've got Hugo Gonzalez, with an impressive 6.98 rating and Ricardo Gutierrez at 6.92. Hold the applause, though, dear bettors, as Cruz Azul's own Kevin Mier is not far off with a 6.88 rating. That's a bit like comparing three different brands of Cola. It's not exactly a runaway competition in the goalkeeping category - more of a lukewarm tortoise race.
Shifting gears towards the cream of the crop enlisted for duty, Mazatlán FC boasts Luis Amarilla, who with a shining 7.17 rating and 7 goals last season, you'd think he's shooting the ball as if it owes him money. Josué Colmán and Gustavo del Prete dovetail in nicely with commendable stats.
For Cruz Azul, it's effectively a one-man show with Uriel Antuna stealing the limelight with a standout 7.53 rating, and 9 goals to his credit last season. Gonzalo Piovi and Carlos Rodríguez tail off the line-up with solid numbers of their own.
These teams have gone toe-to-toe thrice in recent history, with Cruz Azul having the slightly upper hand, much the way a mongoose would over a rather slow-paced python. In the ledger of past victories, they claim one more win than Mazatlán.
Speaking of history, last season Cruz Azul danced circles around Mazatlán FC with a 10-3-4 record, contrasting with Mazatlán FC's modest 4-4-9. Hmm, reflections of the past can sometimes mirror the future, but who's to say?
In recent outings, Cruz Azul's performance has been as consistent as a suspect Wi-Fi signal, while Mazatlán has toggled between victories, draws and losses as if checking off a grocery list.
But, bettors, remember this isn't just a spreadsheet-obsessed accountant's wet dream, and football has a little thing called unpredictability. Keep your calculators and notepads at the ready.
Albert’s Prediction: Cruz Azul by 2