Liga MX: 2018 Apertura Round 6 Picks

Luis Ramos

Well, progress was made and it feels like I might start getting used to this prediction stuff. For Jornada 5, I managed to go 3-6 which is better than the 2-7 from Jornada 4, so I’ll take the one game improvement trend I have started for myself. Jornada 6 will be here much faster so we are wasting no time in jumping into predictions. Let’s just hope I get better this time.

Pumas UNAM- Queretaro 

Pumas’ true colors are starting to show after a low-performance which resulted in a tie against a last place Pachuca and then following that act by suffering their first loss versus Monterrey. This could be a downward spiral that Pumas don’t want to find themselves in. Queretaro is looking to carry the momentum from their tie game vs America into their match-up against Pumas. Look for Pumas to try to bounce back and get in the win column again to avoid being left behind in the table. Don’t be surprised if Queretaro settles for another tie and plays defense all game and use counter attacks as their offense vs Pumas. Queretaro will add to Pumas woes in this scoreless draw. Pumas 0-0 Queretaro. 

Monarcas-Pachuca

Pachuca is riding hot as they look to continue to keep racking up points as they have collected their first win of the season this past Saturday in dominating fashion in a 3-0 win over Lobos BUAP. Monarcas on the other hand are cruising on a four game streak without suffering a loss and winning games that they should be winning. Expect this game vs Pachuca to be one of the games that Monarcas should win. It will be a close match with a lot of emotion and action but Monarcas will take this victory to keep climbing the standings. Monarcas 2-0 Pachuca.

Puebla-Atlas

Will this be the game that Atlas finally scores? Their first win of the season? Truth be told we have no idea. What I do know is that Atlas is playing better each week and despite not winning or scoring goals, they are better than what their record says. As far as their opponent goes…. well there isn’t much to say about Puebla but that they managed to beat Toluca and nothing else significant. There have been plenty of games where Puebla was leading and somehow manage to lose the game. Will this match-up vs Atlas be the same story? I believe it will be. Old habits are hard to break and Atlas in every game look closer and closer to scoring their first goal, while the 2-2 tie for Puebla vs Necaxa shows how Puebla screwed up the 2-0 lead they had on Necaxa. Atlas will have a double celebration as they finally score their first goal and secure their first win of the season. Puebla 1-2 Atlas

Chivas-Necaxa

Chivas was able to finally get their first win of the season, even though their opponent was none other than poor Veracruz. But a win is a win and Chivas earned it. Necaxa managed to come back on Puebla and go home with a point in their 2-2 match-up result. This Match-up between Chivas and Necaxa will be a fun one to watch because both teams are looking to start a positive streak going. For Chivas, they want to start crawling out the bottom of the table and look to get their second victory in a row to get some pressure off their backs. Necaxa is trying to find some consistency and a victory over Chivas would be a good start for them to stick in the middle of the pact without falling too behind. I expect this game to be a shootout with both teams displaying horrible defense and an all out attack. Chivas 3-3 Necaxa

Leon- Club America

This is a tricky game. So Leon beat Queretaro 4-0. Queretaro tied with Club America 1-1. What does that say about this upcoming match between America and Leon? Absolutely nothing. America is one of the best teams in the tournament loaded with talent and it will look to continue their winning ways and get out of the funk they went through against Queretaro. Leon in the other hand are coming off a 3-0 defeat to Cruz Azul who is the best team in the tournament. Expect for the same thing to happen to Leon on Wednesday when they face off against Club America. Leon will have their hands full with Diego Lainez, Roger Martinez, and Oribe Peralta who looks like he found his scoring boot again. Leon 1-3 Club America

Cruz Azul- Toluca 

Cruz Azul has shown that they are the best team in the tournament and only unbeaten team left. Their competition up to this point has been below average but the way they win their games has shown how dominant they are and they have scored 9 goals and conceded only 1 goal throughout the tournament. Their opponents, Toluca, are coming off a 3-0 shutout victory against Club Tijuana, a team Cruz Azul barely managed to draw. Nonetheless, this match-up is different because tensions will be high and that competitive spirit will be well represented in this match. Toluca could be Cruz Azul’s first real test this season and there could be a lot of action happening on the field. Cruz Azul looks the better team and will be tested, but I believe Toluca, with Talavera back in under the goalposts, will add more insurance in the back and will overcome this Cruz Azul team. Cruz Azul 2- 3 Toluca.

Lobos BUAP-Monterrey 

Lobos are possibly one of the weakest teams in this tournament and who can’t wait for this tournament to be over. Monterrey is feeling good after handing Pumas their first loss of the tournament and jumping back up to third place after America tied with Queretaro. Look for this match-up to be taken over by Monterrey early, with Los Rayados on cruise- control by half-time. Unless Lobos decide to have the game of their lives vs Monterrey, I really don’t see much happening from them. There isn’t much to be said, but unless Monterrey screws it up, I expect them to win this Jornada 6 match-up. Lobos BUAP 0- 4 Monterrey.

Tigres- Veracruz 

Tigres are coming off an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Santos which showcased Tigres ongoing struggles to find rhythm and execution of their shots. Vargas and Gignac both managed to miss two penalty shots against a very confident Jonathon Orozco. A team of high-caliber like Tigres are expected to convert those shots into goals to give themselves the best opportunity to win. Veracruz is one of the worst teams of the tournament and not only on the field but they are also dealing with legal issues off the field. This is a must win game for Tigres, if they are looking for the perfect game to use to regain their confidence and get out of the funk then this match against Veracruz is the perfect match for them. Tigres 3-0 Veracruz.

Club Tijuana-Santos Laguna

Santos are sitting in 2nd place in the table largely due to the weak opponents they have faced up to now. Santos has taken advantage of the easy schedule to start the season, to gain all the points they can before they start playing the real hard teams of the tournament. Club Tijuana is lost and is trying to turn this season around and they must make the necessary adjustments to be able to take control of games and start winning again. This will be an interesting match-up to see how Tijuana looks to bounce back against Santos, but I believe that Santos will still do enough to go home with the victory. Club Tijuana 2-3 Santos Laguna.