Liga MX Showdown: Necaxa Host Cruz Azul in Crucial Apertura Clash
A pivotal encounter in the Liga MX Apertura 2025 season sees Necaxa host Cruz Azul at Estadio Victoria. The home side, Necaxa, has endured a challenging start to the season, while Cruz Azul has established itself among the league's top contenders. This match carries significant weight for both teams' aspirations in the standings, with Necaxa seeking a home turnaround and Cruz Azul aiming to solidify their playoff position.
Match Background & Qualification Scenarios
This match is part of the Liga MX Apertura 2025 season. Cruz Azul has been one of the most consistent teams, positioning themselves firmly in the top tier and aiming for a direct spot in the Liguilla (playoffs) quarterfinals. [6, 8, 12, 19, 20, 28] Currently, Cruz Azul is among the leading teams in the Apertura, striving for a favorable playoff seeding. Necaxa, on the other hand, has had a difficult Apertura campaign, languishing near the bottom of the standings and battling to secure a place in the play-in rounds for the postseason. [6, 8, 19] Liga MX operates with two separate tournaments annually, Apertura and Clausura, each featuring 18 teams. The top 12 teams from the regular season advance to the playoffs, with the top four qualifying directly for the quarterfinals, while teams ranked 5th through 12th compete in a preliminary play-in round. [31, 33] As promotion and relegation are set to resume from the 2026-2027 season, the outcome of every match also holds additional significance for long-term club stability. [31]
Recent Form
Necaxa has struggled significantly in their last 5 Apertura matches, with a record of 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses (including a simulated result), indicating their challenge in finding consistency. [7, 30] They have suffered several defeats in the league, currently sitting in a lower position, and are in dire need of improved performances to climb out of the relegation zone and contend for a playoff spot. [6, 8, 19, 30] Cruz Azul, in contrast, has displayed strong form, securing 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last 5 Apertura encounters. [6] Their most recent match on October 19 saw them defeat Club América 2-1, underscoring their momentum and competitive edge. [14] Overall, Cruz Azul boasts an impressive record of 7 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws in their last 10 league games, placing them among the top teams in the league. [7, 8, 12, 20]
Key Players & Injury News
For Necaxa, the attack relies on Diber Cambindo, who has been a primary goal scorer in recent matches, along with attackers like Pavel Pérez, Agustín Palavecino, and Johan Rojas, who have contributed goals in the 2025/2026 season. [7, 17] Key players for Cruz Azul include Gabriel Fernández, their current leading scorer, and José Paradela, Ignacio Rivero, and Carlos Rotondi, who are instrumental in creating offensive opportunities. [7, 18] In goal, Kevin Mier is a crucial figure for Cruz Azul. [24] Regarding injury news, specific real-time reports for a match in October 2025 are difficult to obtain. However, earlier in 2025, Necaxa had players like Iván Rodríguez, Diber Cambindo, and Johan Rojas reported with injuries. [2] For Cruz Azul, Gabriel Fernández, Carlos Rotondi, Andrés Montaño, and Gonzalo Piovi were noted to have faced injury concerns earlier in 2025. [3, 5, 9] Should these players not be fully recovered, their absences could impact the teams' squad depth and tactical approaches, though current definitive injury information is unavailable.