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Battle royales on tap at top and bottom of tables

By Thomas Buckley

First-place Pachuca tops the Liga MX in scoring this season, celebrating a goal 17 times through eight games. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)
First-place Pachuca tops the Liga MX in scoring this season, celebrating a goal 17 times through eight games. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) /
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Liga MX battle royales M9
Santi Giménez (center) and Cruz Azul are likely to find it tough going against Emanuel Gularte (#17) and a stingy Puebla defense. The Cementeros have scored more than 1 goal against the Camoteros only twice in their past 17 encounters. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

Cementeros try to solve the Puebla riddle

Cruz Azul has only defeated Puebla twice in their past 15 encounters but it won’t be easy for the Mexico City powerhouse to topple the Camoteros.

Nicolás Larcamón has Puebla – the lone undefeated team in Liga MX – playing efficiently at the back (fewest goals allowed – 6) and opportunistically up front. Wingers Maxi Araujo and Pablo Parra are the dangermen out wide with alternating strikers Fernando Aristeguieta and Guillermo Martínez serving as target men in the box.

Cruz Azul enters the match with injury issues (defender Julio César Domínguez and forward Rómulo Otero picked up leg injuries midweek while former Puebla talisman Christian Tabó has been sidelined since mid-February).

The Cementeros must also solve their propensity for conceding late goals at home. “La Máquina” has twice come up a loser at Estadio Azteca by allowing winners in stoppage time. Part of the blame falls on Juan Reynoso’s substitution patterns as he has inserted playmakers while leaving tired defenders on the field.

A victory by Cruz Azul tonight could lift the Cementeros into third place (if the Tigres lose), while Puebla can reclaim first with a win and a Pachuca loss or draw but can fall no further than third with a loss.

Earlier Saturday, reigning Liga MX champs Atlas try to return to the “W” column when they pay a visit to the Gallos Blancos.

The Zorros were poised to take down visiting Pachuca on Wednesday until Jairo Torres earned a controversial red card. “Los Rojinegros” held on until minute 87 but went down to defeat.

Atlas again boasts one of the stingiest defenses in Liga MX (tied with Puebla for fewest goals – 6) but errant triggermen has become an issue. The Zorros only have 7 goals in 8 games.

Querétaro is also struggling on offense and Hernán Cristante’s men have just 1 win but they have been tough to beat (5 ties and only 2 losses). A late penalty against América salvaged a tie Tuesday and cost Aguilas coach Santiago Solari his job.

Speaking of América …

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