Club Leon can claim their first victory of the 2024 Liga MX Apertura campaign on Sunday when they welcome Necaxa to Estadio Leon.
The 2023 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners squandered a lead in the latter stages against Puebla, playing to a 2-2 draw, while Los Once Hermanos were beaten 1-0 by Monterrey on matchday three.
Match preview
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Jorge Bava has experienced a difficult beginning to his first Apertura season in charge of Leon, with his side claiming just two points from their opening three encounters.
It is their worst start to an Apertura campaign since 2018, when they managed to claim one point after three matchdays.
Before their draw with Puebla, this side had not dropped points domestically when leading in the second half since a 1-1 draw versus Club Tijuana in March.
Since the previous Clausura season, La Fiera are unbeaten in their last two league fixtures at Estadio Leon, failing to concede in either of those encounters.
They have not lost any of their last three meetings with Necaxa, earning at least a point in six consecutive meetings against them at home.
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A poor start to the second half proved costly for Los Rayos in midweek as they suffered a 1-0 defeat for the second time in the 2024 Apertura campaign.
Even though they have lost two of their three domestic contests in this phase of the competition, their three points claimed equals their best start to an Apertura campaign since 2022 (three points).
Eduardo Fentanes has seen his side lose three consecutive away matches in Liga MX dating back to the previous Clausura season, with the last two being by a single goal.
Necaxa have lost three of their previous four Liga MX affairs and are winless away from home since matchday 14 of the 2024 Clausura campaign (3-2 over Club Tijuana).
The Aguascalientes club have not claimed a domestic victory against Los Esmeraldas at Estadio Leon since winning 4-0 in January 2018.
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Team News
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In their encounter with Puebla, Leon were missing Ivan Moreno due to a Metatarsal fracture, Andres Guardado had a sore hamstring and Federico Vinas is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury.
Jhonder Cadiz scored a goal in each half of their previous encounter, leading the team with two on the year, while Alfonso Alvarado is the only other player to score for them after three Apertura matchdays.
On Wednesday, Necaxa were without Alek Alvarez because of a shoulder injury, while Brayan Garnica will miss this match after receiving a straight red card versus Monterrey.
Diber Cambindo, on loan from Cruz Azul, leads them with two goals after three matches, with their only other goalscorers being Kevin Rosero and Agustin Palavecino.
Club Leon possible starting lineup:
Blanco; Frias, Barreiro, Bellon; Ambriz; Uribe, Reyes, Medina, Rodriguez; Cadiz, Ayon
Necaxa possible starting lineup:
Unsain; Sandoval, Pena, Oliveros, Mayorga; Cortez, Palavecino; Rosero, Paradela, Monreal; Cambindo
We say: Club Leon 2-0 Necaxa
Neither side have been particularly sharp to this point of the Apertura season, but the inconsistency of Necaxa away from home has us leaning towards Leon in this match.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
