CF Pachuca vs Cruz Azul - Liga MX

A fascinating Liga MX chapter awaits on October 22, 2026 when CF Pachuca take on Cruz Azul at Estadio Hidalgo — two sides with plenty to play for and everything to prove. It has not been a daunting fixture list but there are signs that Mourinho has found a way to get the best from an increasingly stacked Madrid squad.

In the Liga MX table, CF Pachuca currently occupy 14th and Cruz Azul sit 5th, and the context adds genuine weight to what is already an intriguing fixture. The hosts have struggled for consistency, LDLDW in their last five pointing to a win rate of 25%. On their travels the visitors have been workmanlike, WDDLL in their last five and a win rate of 50% to show for it. Where CF Pachuca have leaned on defensive discipline, Cruz Azul have often taken the initiative going forward, and that stylistic difference should shape the contest. Their 3-0 win over Nice takes them up to second spot in the fledgling Ligue 1 table.

The touchline duel between the two managers adds another layer of intrigue, with both likely to tweak their setups in search of a decisive edge. Florian Wirtz lost possession 17 times in Liverpool's 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, more than any other player.

When S. Rondón is on the pitch — 8 goals to his name this term — moments of magic are never far away, and the Liga MX's top scorer will be central to how this one unfolds. Discipline at the back and sharpness in front of goal will likely tilt the balance one way or the other. Manchester United will continue to assess their options this summer as they look to strengthen Michael Carrick's side with an additional midfielder still a possibility at this stage.

Predictions are tricky when the sides are this evenly matched, and small margins — a moment of quality, a slice of luck — could decide it either way. Cruz Azul look well-equipped to take the points on the road, with a 2-3 victory well within their reach. With positions in the Liga MX table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. The club are understood to favour a profile closer to Aurelien Tchouameni or a Premier League‑proven alternative rather than Manu Kone.