Liga MX: Leon visits Puebla with slim playoff hopes on the line

Leon is three points out of a Liguilla spot. Puebla is four points out. Does either see their hopes die this week?

There are just four matches remaining for these two sides. Neither can move into a playoff spot this week. If either want to keep their chances alive, however, they need to win this match. Leon is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Cruz Azul in the Copa MX, but Liga MX play has been more confusing than anything. Through 13 matches, Leon have scored 17 and allowed 17 and sit at 16 points in the table. Puebla have scored 16 goals, conceded 22 and have 15 points to show for their efforts.

Last match

Puebla: L @ Morelia 2-0

Puebla traveled to Morelia, hoping to cut off Monarcas’ winning streak before it began. Through the first half, they had done their job. The held 58% of the possession in the opening 45 minutes and avoided conceding any goals or even any big chances. The second half started out with similar results. In the 57th minute, however, Sebastian Vegas knocked in a goal and Miguel Sansores added another in the 60th minute to put Morelia up 2-0. Puebla couldn’t find the offense necessary to even cut into the lead and went home empty-handed.

León: W @ Necaxa 2-0

After falling to Monarcas Morelia the week prior, Leon hoped to pick themselves up and continue to push towards an improbable Liguilla spot. They traveled to play Necaxa, who had fallen on hard times. Leon held the run of play in the first half and struck quickly. Mauro Boselli scored his fifth goal of the year just seven minutes into the match to put immediate pressure on Los Rayos to try to find some offense. It wouldn’t come, however. Leon’s Luis Montes added to the lead in minute 69, taking a Boselli pass and slotting it behind the goalkeeper to push the score to 0-2 and ultimately give Leon the victory.

Possible line-ups

Puebla: 4-3-3

Vikonis
Lorona – Santamaria – Arreola – Angulo
Robles – Espericueta – Fernandez
Micolta – Cavallini – Tabo

Coach Enrique Meza has used a 5-3-2 in the past, when facing Pumas, for example, so there is a chance he takes a more defensive approach to lineup against Leon. I would suspect Leon is more along the lines of Lobos or Morelia, however, and will warrant Meza’s more preferred 4-3-3.

León: 4-2-3-1

Yarbrough
Mireles – Mosquera – Tesillo – Rodriguez
Mejia – Aquino
Meneses – Montes – Moreno
Boselli

Coach Espinoza shook things up a bit and used American goalkeeper William Yarbrough instead of Rodolfo Cota against Necaxa. He used him again against Cruz Azul in Copa MX, so I would be surprised to not see the 29-year-old keeper. The 4-2-3-1 gives Leon a good shape and allows them to have strength through the middle with Luis Montes and Mauro Boselli acting as the spear of the attack. It also gives some cover for a defense that has struggled at times in the past.

Key players

Puebla: Lucas Cavillini. The Canadian striker has been the key man for Puebla all year. He leads the team in goals with five and is their focal point offensively. Puebla need to score to stay alive in the playoff race. Cavallini has to put the team on his back here.

León: Pedro Aquino. Boselli and Montes have been the main source of offense for Leon, but Aquino has been the man in the middle directing things. When the Peruvian is able to control the center of the pitch, good things happen for Leon.

Prediction

Now that they have been knocked out of the Copa MX, Leon can focus all their attention on catching Tigres, Queretaro and Pachuca for one of the final Liguilla spots. With that in plain view, and Puebla’s offensive struggles, I suspect Leon will find a way to win this match,

León 2 – Puebla 0

Home/Leon