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Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna preview: next match details and prediction

The next Cruz Azul match in the Liga MX Apertura 2026 sees them host Santos Laguna at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City. The fixture is scheduled for 2026-09-07T02:00:00Z and is currently listed as Not Started. This Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna preview looks at kick-off time, venue, standings, form, head to head and the latest prediction data ahead of this Apertura - 7 clash.

With six games played, Cruz Azul sit in mid-table, while Santos Laguna are struggling near the bottom end of the Liga MX: Apertura standings. For home fans wondering when Cruz Azul play next, this home date against Santos offers a chance to climb the table and deepen the visitors’ early-season problems.

Match details: date, kick-off & venue

  • Competition: Liga MX, Apertura - 7
  • Date / Kick-off: 2026-09-07T02:00:00Z
  • Venue: Estadio Banorte, Mexico City
  • Status: Not Started

Standings & form

Cruz Azul come into this round ranked 10th in the Liga MX: Apertura table with 9 points from 6 matches. Their overall record is 3 wins, 0 draws, 3 defeats, with 11 goals scored and 11 conceded, giving a goal difference of 0. The recent form string of WLLLW (oldest to newest) underlines their inconsistency, mixing victories with narrow losses.

At home, Cruz Azul have played 3 times, recording 1 win and 2 defeats, with 4 goals for and 6 against. Away from home they have been stronger, with 2 wins and 1 loss, scoring 7 and conceding 5. That split makes this return to Mexico City a key test of whether they can translate away form into more reliable home performances.

Santos Laguna arrive in a much tougher position. They are currently 17th in the Liga MX: Apertura standings on just 1 point after 6 games. Their record stands at 0 wins, 1 draw and 5 defeats, with 4 goals scored and 11 conceded, for a goal difference of -7. The form line of DLLLL highlights a side on a prolonged slide, with defeats piling up.

On their own ground, Santos Laguna have taken their only point: 0 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, with 0 goals scored and 2 conceded. Away from home, they have lost all 3 fixtures, scoring 4 but conceding 9. Improving that away record is essential if they are to start climbing the table, but a trip to a Cruz Azul side that has already shown attacking threat will be a stern examination.

From the season statistics, Cruz Azul have yet to register a clean sheet (0 in 6 games) and have failed to score only once, underlining their open, high-event style. Santos Laguna, by contrast, have managed 1 clean sheet but have failed to score in 4 of their 6 league outings, pointing to clear attacking issues. Disciplinary data shows Santos picking up several yellow cards across matches, while Cruz Azul also collect cautions, suggesting this could be a competitive, physical encounter.

Head-to-head

  • 2026-03-04T01:00:00Z: Santos Laguna 1–2 Cruz Azul (Liga MX)
  • 2025-08-17T01:00:00Z: Cruz Azul 3–2 Santos Laguna (Liga MX)
  • 2025-02-20T03:05:00Z: Santos Laguna 0–1 Cruz Azul (Liga MX)
  • 2024-11-03T03:10:00Z: Cruz Azul 2–0 Santos Laguna (Liga MX)
  • 2024-03-10T01:00:00Z: Santos Laguna 3–0 Cruz Azul (Liga MX)

The recent head-to-head record is tilted towards Cruz Azul. In the five Liga MX meetings listed, Cruz Azul have won four times, including the most recent clash, a 2–1 away victory at Estadio Corona in March 2026. Santos Laguna’s only success in this run was a convincing 3–0 home win in March 2024. Home and away, Cruz Azul have shown they can score against Santos, with three or more goals in two of the last three home fixtures between the sides.

Team news & absences

No confirmed injury or suspension information is provided for either Cruz Azul or Santos Laguna for this fixture, so final team news will depend on the official matchday squads.

Key players to watch

  • J. Márquez (Cruz Azul) — 3 goals and 1 assist so far in Liga MX 2026, an impressive output from a defender and a major set-piece and open-play threat.
  • N. Ibáñez (Cruz Azul) — 3 goals for the attacker, making him one of Cruz Azul’s primary finishers in the final third.
  • C. Rodríguez (Cruz Azul) — 4 assists from midfield, the league’s top provider in this dataset and a key creator between the lines.
  • L. Romero (Cruz Azul) — Contributed 1 goal and 2 assists, offering additional attacking spark and versatility in the forward line.

Prediction

The prediction model leans strongly towards the hosts. The Cruz Azul vs Santos Laguna prediction gives Cruz Azul a 45% chance of victory, with a 45% probability of a draw and just 10% for a Santos Laguna win. The advice is a “Double chance: Cruz Azul or draw”, reflecting Cruz Azul’s stronger form, better standings position and superior recent head-to-head record, combined with Santos Laguna’s winless start and poor away form.

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