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Chivas look to continue perfect season against Santos Laguna

By Dan Chapman

ZAPOPAN, MEXICO - AUGUST 12: Jose Abella (L) of Santos and Isaac Brizuela (R) of Chivas compete for the ball during the fourth round match between Chivas and Santos Laguna as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Akron Stadium on August 12, 2018 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Juan Mejia/Jam Media/Getty Images)
ZAPOPAN, MEXICO - AUGUST 12: Jose Abella (L) of Santos and Isaac Brizuela (R) of Chivas compete for the ball during the fourth round match between Chivas and Santos Laguna as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Akron Stadium on August 12, 2018 in Zapopan, Mexico. (Photo by Juan Mejia/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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After an impressive start to the Clausura, Chivas will be confident ahead of the weekend’s fixture against an indifferent Santos side.

Chivas fans could be forgiven for being optimistic and confident due to their club’s unbeaten run to kick off the New Year.

Fighting a tough game against Toluca last weekend, perhaps everyone can agree that last year Chivas would have drawn or lost that game. But to achieve a win against a tough opposition is the latest in a series of signs that things have positively changed for the Guadalajara side.

Things are a little more disappointing for Santos Laguna however who have 1 loss, 1 win and 1 draw so far in the Clausura. Despite reaching the Liguilla in the Apertura, things have not gotten off to a great start.

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Previous Game

Chivas 1, Toluca 0

Chivas fought hard to gain a tough win against Toluca last weekend and they have consistently shown a new fighting streak lately, and a desire to get the win at whatever cost. The players have shown a level of confidence lacking since their double winning side in 2017.

Puebla 1, Santos 1

The Guerreros struggled to a draw against Puebla and will not have the greatest confidence leading into this weekend’s game. New Santos striker Javier Correa – brought in to replace Jona Rodríguez – notched his first goal for the Guerreros. Santos launched 23 shots and got 9 on target, but failed to create great scoring chances.

Key Players

Chivas: Alan Pulido has been the star attacking player so far in 2019, getting the game-winner last week against Toluca. He is forging a good relationship with new signing Alexis Vega and fellow veteran Isaac Brizuela. Vega will be desperate to finally score his debut goal for Chivas and could provide a unique challenge for Santos’ defenders.

Raul Gudiño put in a top-class performance against Toluca, and he has been consistently good in goal this season. He kept Toluca’s strikers at bay, benefiting from a controversial decision in which a goal was disallowed because the ball trickled along the line but was ruled to have never fully crossed over it. Gudiño scrambled and snatched the ball back into the field of play after it nudged the post.

Santos: Forwards Correa and Julio Furch will be keen to turn Santos’ fortunes around with star performances and will need to be at their best to penetrate a Chivas defense that has yet to concede a goal in league play.

The Guerreros’ defense will also need to be at their best to successfully keep Chivas’ attacking threat at bay.

Prediction

I believe the league-leading Chivas get another win in this game though Santos at home will not make it easy for them as they will be desperate to get a good result too.

The Chivas’ defense could be in for a long game as Santos will undoubtedly pressure them.

I see Chivas conceding a goal, but they will have too much attacking strength for Santos to handle.

Santos 1, Chivas 3

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