Liga MX 2021 Apertura match preview: Santos Laguna vs. Mazatlan FC

Game: Club Santos Laguna SA de CV vs. Mazatlán Futbol Club

Date: Saturday, October 2nd

Time: 8:06 pm Eastern, 7:06 pm Central, 5:06 pm Pacific, 12:06 am UTC

Venue: Corona TSM Stadium (Torreón, Coah.)

Referees: REF: Erick Yair Miranda Galindo, AR1: Enríque Isaac Bustos Díaz, AR2 : Enrique Martìnez Sandoval, 4TH: Brian Omar Gonzalez Veles, VAR: José Alfredo Peñaloza Soto, AVAR: Fabrice Paul Plancon-Jallet

TV : United States – FOX Sports Network; Mexico – TV Azteca

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All-time record: This will be the third time that Santos Laguna has faced off against Mazatlán, with their last meeting ending in a 0-0 draw in Mazatlán. The last time they played in Torreón, Santos thrashed them 4-0 back on November 8, 2020, with Hugo Rodríguez getting a brace as well as goals from Josecarlos Van Rankin and Fernando Gorriarán. They did face their predecessors Monarcas Morelia a number of times. Monarcas held the slight edge all time with 22 wins to Santos’ 21, and the clubs had 17 draws between them. The only time the clubs met outside of Liga MX play was in the 2003-2004 Interliga when Monarcas won 3-2 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Photo by Jos Alvarez/Jam Media/Getty Images

After a dispiriting loss at home to regional rivals Monterrey, Santos will look to get three critical points against Mazatlán FC and avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since the 2016 Clausura. The good news for Santos is that they entered the week in a Liguilla spot despite having a game in hand due to their midweek game against Pumas postponed until November. And even though the loss to Monterrey was tough to swallow, it’s only the third home loss for the entirety of 2021.

While Santos has had trouble scoring, they will face off against a team that has allowed 17 goals all season, which is tied for second-worst in the league with Juárez coming into the week. And while Mazatlán’s 14 goals scored are good enough to tie them with Club América for fifth place, Santos’ defense has been one of the stingiest in the league, allowing just nine goals.

Photo by Sergio Mejia/Getty Images

Mazatlán is at a bit of a disadvantage, having hosted Juárez on Tuesday before heading to Torreón. They did manage to pick up their first win since July against Bravos, however Juárez was missing center back Victor Velazquez, who had picked up a red card in the previous match against San Luis.

Mazatlán’s only road win of the season was the season opener at Cruz Azul, and since then they’ve lost two and drawn two away from home. They also have to get past the mental hurdle of never having beaten Santos, much less doing it in such a formidable place.

It should be an entertaining match nonetheless, with a potent offense trying to power through against a tough defense on their home turf.