Nebulous futures dominate the Liga MX Clausura as Necaxa faces Santos Laguna at the Estadio Victoria de Aguascalientes on Friday, February 7, 2025. Both teams are encountering tumultuous seasons, with Necaxa aiming to recover from two consecutive defeats, including a recent 1-0 loss against Monterrey. The home side sits at 10th place, yet they must contend with advancing Santos Laguna, who currently languishes at the bottom of the standings without securing any points this season.
Entering this match, Necaxa's players want to attune their performance, hoping to capitalize on the desperation surrounding Santos Laguna, whose dwindling record reveals their struggles. It's been thirteen games since Santos last tasted victory, suffering through the entirety of the current Clausura campaign without any points.
At the forefront is Colombian striker Diber Cambindo, pivotal to Necaxa's attack, boasting four goals since joining from Cruz Azul. He has become not just the scoring leader for the team but is also vying for the individual scoring title in Liga MX alongside America’s Victor Dávila, who also has four goals. Cambindo, along with midfielder José Paradela, was fundamental during the recent match on February 7 where he netted the first goal at the 5-minute mark, with Paradela converting the penalty shortly after to end the match with Necaxa securing two goals against Santos Laguna.
"Diber Cambindo has been our blade against opposing defenses, and with each match, he continues to prove his worth. We rely on his pace and precision," stated Nicolás Larcamon, Necaxa’s head coach. On the other hand, Santos Laguna coach Fernando Ortiz grapples against bleak prospects, noting, "Our team must find cohesion before we can begin to redeem ourselves; we need to be resilient to escape our current slump. We are unfortunate, but the tide must change."
The historical backdrop of this matchup heightens its significance. Over their last 20 meetings, Santos Laguna has outperformed Necaxa with 10 victories compared to 8. The two clubs have battled fiercely, exemplified by their last encounter on September 2, 2024, which yielded Santos Laguna triumphing with 3 goals against Necaxa's 2.
This encounter is not just another game; the matchup longstanding back-and-forth and competitive spirit between both teams trace back through Liga MX history. Their head-to-head record reveals 58 encounters detailing identical victory counts: 21 wins for each, alongside 16 draws. Notably, Santos Laguna clinched the inaugural final under the short tournament format back in 1996, securing their first First Division title.
To adequately prepare for this faceoff, both teams have announced substantial adjustments. For Necaxa, Diego de Buen’s tactical shifts may procure the necessity of adapting their formation and possibly introducing Kevin Rosero should he recover from physical concerns. Meanwhile, Santos has been hampered by injuries, with Franco Fagundez and José Macías expected to remain sidelined, making the contributions of Anthony Lozano and Jordan Carrillo indispensable.
From a viewing perspective, fans can catch the action through streaming services such as Fubo, DirecTV Stream, and TUDN outside Mexico. Within Mexico, Claro Sports and Azteca 7 are the top options for live broadcasts, ensuring fans remain connected to the action.
The match kickoff time is slated for 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET, promising not just thrilling gameplay but also bearing witness to the possible awakening needed for the beleaguered Santos Laguna team. With every kick and whistle at Estadio Victoria, the question remains—can Necaxa galvanize their efforts against the dark clouds surrounding Santos Laguna?