Pachuca and Santos Laguna aren't all that different as clubs.
Both based a considerable distance outside Mexico's biggest metropolitan areas, the clubs have bought in on a strategy that involves developing young players in the academy and giving those players early opportunities with a view toward turning a profit to fund the organization.
It results in periods of success and times of rebuilding.
This year, Santos is cruising with its playoff ticket already punched while Pachuca sits in the eighth and final place knowing it has plenty of work to do starting with Saturday's contest.
| Game | Pachuca vs. Santos Laguna |
| Date | Saturday, April 14 |
| Time | 8:06 p.m. ET |
| Stream (US only) | fuboTV (7-day free trial) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
Watch Pachuca vs. Santos live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
Squads & Team News
| Position | Pachuca players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Blanco, Perez, Romero |
| Defenders | Esquivel, Gonzalez, Lopez, Garcia, Martinez, Murillo, Pena, Herrera, Villegas, Wbias |
| Midfielders | Honda, Guzman, Sagal, Gimenez, Aguirre, Gutierrez, Hernandez, Figueroa, Lopez, Gomez |
| Forwards | Calero, Jara, Ayala, Reyes, Palacios |
Pachuca center back Oscar Murillo is still out with the thigh injury he suffered with the Colombian national team, though he hopes to return in two weeks.
Potential starting XI: Blanco; Martinez, Pena, Gonzalez, Garcia; Palacios, Hernandez, Gutierrez, Aguirre; Honda; Sagal
| Position | Santos Laguna players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Orozco, Acevedo, Garcia |
| Defenders | Izquierdoz, Araujo, Alcoba, Villafana, Arteaga, Abella, Sanchez, Ibanez, Bernal |
| Midfielders | Vazquez, Rivas, Andrade, Martinez, de Buen, Cortes, Rabello, Davila, Lozano, Martinez, Isijara |
| Forwards | Furch, Rodriguez, Djaniny |
Nestor Araujo is working back to fitness from the knee injury he picked up with Mexico during the international break.
With his team already qualified for the postseason and with just three weeks left to play, manager Robert Siboldi said he's considering a number of changes to give his top players rest.
Potential starting XI: Orozco; Abella, Izquierdoz, Alcoba, Villafana; Rivas, De Buen, Vazquez, Lozano; Rodriguez, Djaniny
Betting & Match Odds
The bookmakers like Pachuca with dabblebet putting the odds at 21/20. A draw goes at 9/4 while Santos is 5/2 to win.
Game Preview
The season has not gone as expected for either Pachuca or Santos Laguna.
Pachuca, the reigning champion of the CONCACAF Champions League, fell out of the gate and has had to climb back into the playoff picture. Tuzos sit in the eighth and final spot after last weekend's 6-2 win over Puebla, in which Sebastian Palacios scored four goals. Known as a 'poker' in Latin America, the four-goal haul makes it six total on the year for the Argentine.
While he and Keisuke Honda both have helped turn things around for Diego Alonso's men, the core of the team continues to be young Mexican players. Erick Gutierrez's return to fitness, plus the emergence of Erick Aguirre has at least helped the team to four points in its last three league matches.
It needs to be much better, but there could be a break this weekend. Santos comes in already qualified for the Liguilla thanks to an impressive campaign so far. Djaniny Tavares leads the Golden Boot race with 13 goals, and Santos has been able to cope without him and center back Nestor Araujo for stretches this season because of injuries.
With the spot in the playoffs already cinched up, Santos may look to give its own homegrown players a run-out against Tuzos with the team focusing on what's to come next month rather than the trip to the Estadio Hidalgo.
Pachuca's own young players need to take any advantage they can for the club to find a way into the playoffs in what has been one of the toughest campaigns Alonso has overseen since his arrival.
