Cruz Azul must beat winless Santos before the Clásico Joven

Cruz Azul return to Estadio Banorte with a clear demand: beat Santos and show that last week’s response in Aguascalientes was more than a brief improvement. The visitors remain without a win, while Cruz Azul are trying to steady an uneven start before the Clásico Joven.

The teams arrive in sharply different positions. Cruz Azul sit 10th with nine points from three wins and three defeats, having scored and conceded 11 goals. Santos are 17th, second from bottom, with only one point.

Cruz Azul will also have Erik Lira available again. His move to Monaco fell through on the final day of the transfer window because the French club could not free a foreign-player slot. The club has also completed the arrival of Alan Mozo from Pachuca to reinforce the right side of the defense.

The team still has injury concerns, with Carlos Rotondi and Gonzalo Piovi unavailable. Cruz Azul have won four of their last five meetings with Santos, while the Comarca side have taken one victory. With Lira back and home support behind them, Cruz Azul are looking for consecutive wins that could move them into the Liguilla places and build confidence ahead of the Clásico Joven against América and the Campeones Cup meeting with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.