LIGA MX
Club América and Cruz Azul possible lineups for the Clásico Joven in Liga MX Clausura 2024
América boss André Jardine will name his strongest possible team, while leaders Cruz Azul will be without two regulars.
Club América and Cruz Azul come face to face in Liga MX’s Clausura 2024 on Sunday, with the teams heading into the Clásico Joven in contrasting form. Las Águilas are going through their worst spell since head coach André Jardine took over, while La Máquina, who finished third bottom of the Apertura 2023 league phase, are top of the standings in the very next short tournament. After winning their first three matches, América are now on a poor run of just one victory in five. Cruz Azul, by contrast, picked up just a point from their opening two fixtures but have since won six in a row.
Cáceres and Valdés set to return for Las Águilas
There will be no rotating for Jardine as he looked to guide the hosts back to winning ways, with the Brazilian expected to name his strongest XI. That would see defender Sebastián Cáceres and midfielder Diego Valdés return to the starting lineup after recent omissions.
América have been hampered in this tournament by a number of players suffering muscle fatigue, most likely due to the lack of a preseason. In addition, several members of the roster have had covid-19 in recent weeks.
Possible Club América XI against Cruz Azul
Luis Malagón; Israel Reyes, Sebastián Cáceres, Igor Lichnovsky, Cristian Calderón, Jonathan Dos Santos, Álvaro Fidalgo, Alejandro Zendejas, Diego Valdés; Henry Martin, Julián Quiñones.
La Máquina without regulars Ditta and Fernández
Although everything is rosy for Cruz Azul at the moment, they will be unable to call upon centre-back Willer Ditta and attacker Gabriel “Toro” Fernández, who would likely start when fit.
Possible Cruz Azul XI against América
Kevin Mier, Carlos Salcedo, Erik Lira, Gonzalo Piovi; Rodrigo Huescas, Lorenzo Faravelli, Carlos Rodríguez, Carlos Rodolfo Rotondi; Uriel Antuna, Ángel Sepúlveda, Alexis Gutiérrez.
Sunday’s game at Estadio Azteca will be the 72nd meeting between the teams in short tournaments. América lead the series with 29 victories to to 19, with 23 draws.
Las Águilas won the last Clásico Joven in the Apertura 2023 tournament in September, with Julián Quiñones, Richard Sánchez and Brian Rodríguez on target in a 3-2 win.