Mazatlan — Santos Laguna : Match Preview and Prediction for October 22,2025

Mazatlan’s Home Strength

Mazatlan consistently earns the majority of its points on home turf. Nine out of eleven points in the current Apertura campaign were secured within their own stadium. This is a team that truly transforms in front of its home crowd. Yes, a 0-2 away defeat to Guadalajara occurred in the last round. However, it’s crucial to understand that ‘Chivas’ are currently in exceptional form, boasting four consecutive victories. Losing to such a strong opponent on their home ground is far from a disaster.

Recent Form and Key Player Return

More importantly, prior to that, Mazatlan secured a resilient 2-1 home victory against Atletico San Luis. Furthermore, their last direct encounter with Santos Laguna ended in a 1-1 draw, but a glance at the xG (expected goals) statistics reveals a significant advantage: 2.50 vs. 0.57 in Mazatlan’s favor. The home side created significantly more scoring opportunities and arguably deserved to claim all three points. Additionally, experienced defender Lucas Merolla returns to the squad after serving his suspension, which is expected to bolster their defensive capabilities.

Santos Laguna’s Dismal Away Record

Now, let’s turn our attention to the visitors. Santos Laguna’s away performance is nothing short of disastrous. The statistics speak for themselves: the team has suffered defeats in 18 of their last 20 away matches. This season, ‘Los Guerreros’ (The Warriors) have yet to secure a single victory in six away fixtures.

Deceptive Victory Against Leon

Indeed, they managed a 2-0 victory over Leon in the previous round, but don’t let the scoreline deceive you. Santos conceded possession (38% ball control), allowed 21 shots on their goal, with 11 of those on target. Goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo was forced to make 11 crucial saves to keep a clean sheet. This is not the pattern of a team in control of the game; rather, it was a fortunate escape largely due to an outstanding individual goalkeeping display.

Defensive Vulnerabilities and Discipline Issues

Prior to this win, Santos Laguna had been on a losing streak, including a crushing 0-3 defeat against America. A broader look at their overall performance paints a clear picture: Santos Laguna ranks first in the league for shots allowed on their goal (18.46 per match), first for shots on target conceded (6.31 per match), and first for big scoring chances created against their own goal. This team’s defense is an open door, consistently backed by season-long statistics. Furthermore, their league-leading number of red cards highlights significant disciplinary problems within the squad.