Get ready for the return leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 between Cruz Azul and Forge. This should be an interesting match and this preview contains everything you need to know. Read on!
It should be mentioned that Forge play their home matches on artifical turf, so they have to adjust for this one as it's played on grass. Does it matter? Recent statistics for Forge on grass are 15 victories, 9 draws and 11 defeats from 35 games. In these matches they have a goal statistics scored/conceded: 40-38. You can compare this with overall results below.
The hosts Cruz saw competitive action as recent as four days ago, playing in the Liga MX. That game was an away game at Toluca, so at least Cruz Azul are thankful to return home in this one. Game on!
Cruz Azul form and stats
Cruz Azul participated in CONCACAF Champions League the last season, where they reached the semi-finals and lost against Monterrey.Cruz Azul must be fairly happy with 6 points from their first three Liga MX games here at Estadio Azteca.
Happy days for Cruz Azul in their previous game, a fixture away at Toluca that ended with a 4-1 victory. Rodriguez (midfield was the top team player in that game with a rating of 8.81/10. Rodriguez scored one goal, served one assist and hit four key passes.
The match schedule is unforgiving for Cruz as they have a new game in only three days, a Liga MX match thankfully also at home. Santos Laguna are visiting.
The Cruz Azul fans would probably like to see some more goals scored at their own stadium in the league, the tally being 4 in 3 matches. Cruz Azul are not conceding a lot of goals here at Estadio Azteca in the league, averaging less than one per game. The total is 2 from 3 matches.
Forge form and stats
A loss against Pacific was the result prior to that, in a Premier League home game.Head 2 Head
Forge - Cruz Azul 0-1 was the story when these two participants previously did battle, some time ago this season.Top Goalscorers
  S. Giménez 6 goals | B. Angulo Tenorio 5 goals | C. Rodríguez Gómez 3 goals |
Cruz Azul missing players
Forge missing players
| Cruz Azul | Forge | ||||||
| Total | Home | Statistics | Stat | Away | Total | ||
| 25 | 12 | Played | P | 12 | 25 | ||
| 9 | 5 | Won | W | 6 | 12 | ||
| 8 | 3 | Drew | D | 2 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 4 | Lost | L | 4 | 8 | ||
| 32 | 17 | Scored | S | 14 | 32 | ||
| 29 | 15 | Conceded | C | 11 | 22 | ||
| 92% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 83% | 84% | ||
| 68% | 83% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 58% | 60% | ||
| 36% | 42% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 42% | 44% | ||
| 24% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 25% | 24% | ||
| 16% | 17% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 4% | ||
| 52% | 58% | BTTS | BTTS | 33% | 36% | ||
| 36% | 33% | Clean Sheets | C S | 50% | 40% | ||
| 20% | 8% | Failed to Score | F T | 33% | 40% | ||
| 4.1 | 4.5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 5.5 | 5.6 | ||
| 4.5 | 4.6 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 4.4 | 3.9 | ||
| 2.5 | 2.1 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 2.4 | 2.1 | ||
| 3 | 1 | Red cards | R C | 1 | 2 | ||
| 10.1 | 11.2 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 7.7 | 9.6 | ||
| 3.6 | 4.4 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 3.4 | 4.6 | ||
| 37% | 32% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 34% | 28% | ||
| 11.9 | 11.6 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 8.2 | 7.4 | ||
| 4 | 4.2 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 3.2 | 3.1 | ||
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Puebla | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| 2 | Pachuca | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | Cruz Azul | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 | Tigres UANL | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| 5 | Atlas | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 |
| 6 | Pumas UNAM | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 |
| 7 | Toluca | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -4 | 9 |
| 8 | Leon | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Guadalajara | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 10 | Juarez | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 7 |
| 11 | Necaxa | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | -3 | 7 |
| 12 | Queretaro | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -2 | 6 |
| 13 | Mazatlan | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | -4 | 6 |
| 14 | Monterrey | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 15 | Tijuana | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -5 | 5 |
| 16 | America | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | -5 | 4 |
| 17 | Atletico San Luis | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -5 | 3 |
| 18 | Santos Laguna | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -7 | 2 |
