Who said the tortoise can't beat the hare, right? Oh, look at this matchup folks - Santos Laguna taking on Juárez FC. A spiraling tale of seasons past that gives Shakespearean tragedies a run for their money.
To start, let's stroll down memory lane with the past clashes; Juárez FC has given Santos a 'FC'eslap twice in a row now, the last encounter finishing 2-1 in their favor. But let's not find selective memory; we shouldn't forget Santos Laguna having their go in 2023 with a theatrical 5-1 victory.
But let's turn our attention now to their current forms, shall we? The stats sheet would have you believe that both teams are running a surprisingly similar marathon; both with two wins but Santos slipping with an extra loss.
A peek into Juárez FC's recent shenanigans shows us a tight win against Puebla, a mild hiccup against Tigres UANL followed by a close defeat to Monterrey. But hey, who are we kidding? That 5-0 bulldozing by CD Guadalajara shouldn't be ignored either.
Pushing over to Santos Laguna's recent follies, the latest disappointment at Atlético de San Luis, a victory over Toluca only to be followed by a loss to Monterrey. Let's not forget about their solid effort against Club Necaxa and a respectful draw against Club León.
So, after considering their recent form, past encounters, regular season records, and factors that shall remain unmentioned, I'm betting on the tortoise this time. This means your friend Albert here is putting his chips on Juárez FC.
Albert’s Prediction: Juárez FC by 1