Querétaro vs. Juárez: Clash of Contrasting Fortunes

The 2023 Liga MX Clausura has been a campaign of contrasting fortunes for Querétaro and Juárez so far. As the two sides prepare to clash on Friday night at Estadio Corregidora, the disparity in their performances this season could hardly be starker.

At one end of the spectrum lie the hosts, Querétaro. Though their 14 points from 11 games may not seem too impressive on paper, Los Gallos Blancos have shown themselves to be a tough nut to crack this season. Their gritty and competitive displays have belied their mid-table position, marking them out as a side that simply refuses to be beaten.

However, home has admittedly not been the kindest of hunting grounds for Querétaro this term. Of their six games at the Estadio Corregidora, they have managed just one victory. This is a statistic that will need to improve if they harbor ambitions of challenging for a playoff spot.

Interestingly though, finding the net has not been a major problem for the home side on their own patch. They have averaged a healthy 1.5 goals per game in front of their own fans, suggesting their attacking ranks are well-stocked with goal threats.

Chief among them is the vastly experienced Pablo Barrera. At 36 years old, the former Mexican international is very much in the twilight of his career, but he continues to be a thorn in the side of opposition defenses. With three goals and four assists already this season, Barrera’s cunning output could well make the difference in this tie.

On the other side of the coin lie FC Juárez, a team that finds itself propping up the Liga MX standings. Los Bravos’ campaign has been one of toil and underachievement, with their problems in front of goal proving to be their Achilles heel.

With just 0.7 goals scored per game on average, Juárez have the worst attacking record in the division this season. Their struggles to consistently find the net have undoubtedly been a major factor in their lowly position.

That said, there have been glimpses of life from Juárez’ attack in recent weeks. In five of their last seven outings, they have managed to get on the scoresheet, even if those goals have not always translated into victories.

A key protagonist in this mini-revival has been the versatile midfielder Aitor García. With two goals in his last two games, the Spaniard has hit a vein of form that will encourage his teammates and give visiting fans hope of an upset on Friday.

García’s ability to create chances from midfield could also be crucial, with the 29-year-old having crafted 13 scoring opportunities for his side so far this term. If he is able to supply sufficient ammunition for Juárez’ frontline, they may just be able to pull off a shock result.

When analyzing the underlying numbers, the statistics point to the likelihood of an open, attack-minded contest. Neither Querétaro nor Juárez have been particularly adept at keeping clean sheets this season, conceding regularly.

The hosts have managed just one shutout in 11 Liga MX games, while Juárez’s defensive record is even more concerning – they have failed to prevent the opposition from scoring in their last eight matches.

With both teams seemingly vulnerable at the back and each possessing players capable of causing problems in the final third, the safest betting option could be to back both teams to score at odds of -125 with bet365.

A home win for the more consistent Querétaro may well be the likeliest outcome. But in this clash of Liga MX’s contrasting fortunes, an entertaining, free-scoring affair appears to be written in the stars under the Friday night lights in Querétaro.