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Toluca welcome Santos Laguna to the Estadio Nemesio Diez on Sunday looking to strengthen their position at the top of the Liga MX Apertura standings against a side still near the bottom of the table.
Antonio Mohamed's team have taken 19 points from eight matches and followed a 5-2 victory over Atlas with a narrow 1-0 win at Puebla, while the visitors finally registered their first victory of the campaign against FC Juarez but remain on just four points.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Toluca vs. Santos Laguna key stats
- Toluca have won six of their eight Liga MX matches this season.
- Toluca have won their last six home matches across all competitions.
- Toluca have won each of the last three meetings between the clubs and both teams scored.
- Toluca have scored at least twice in six of their last seven matches.
- Santos Laguna have lost their four away league games this season.
Toluca vs. Santos Laguna preview: League leaders face struggling Santos
Toluca vs. Santos Laguna — Tale of the Tape
| Toluca | vs | Santos Laguna |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Position | 17th |
| 19 | Points | 4 |
| 18 | Goals For | 6 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 13 |
| 4 | Clean Sheets | 1 |
| 2nd | Home / Away Rank | 17th |
Toluca have established themselves at the top of the Apertura standings after a strong opening to the campaign, with their latest victory coming in a less spectacular fashion than some of their earlier wins.
A 1-0 success at Puebla on Tuesday was enough to take Mohamed's side to 19 points, with Jose Pachuca's own goal deciding a match in which Toluca had to be patient rather than dominate from start to finish.
It followed their 5-2 home victory over Atlas, meaning they have now won four of their last five league matches and are unbeaten in the last six.
There is also a favourable record against Santos, with the last three meetings all going Toluca's way, while they have won the last six at home.
The hosts have several players listed as unavailable or doubtful, as Edgar Ivan Lopez and Marcel Ruiz remain out with knee problems, while Santiago Simon is sidelined with a calf injury.
Erick Gutierrez and Hugo Gonzalez are among those whose availability needs to be assessed before kick-off.
Santos arrive with a slightly different story after finally ending their long wait for a league victory, with Ezequiel Bullaude and Esteban Lozano scoring in the second half as the Warriors came from behind to beat FC Juarez 2-1 last time out, their first win of the Apertura this season.
That result moved them to four points from eight games, but their overall record remains one win, one draw and six defeats, while they have also scored only six goals while conceding 13, leaving them with one of the weaker defensive records in the division.
The main issue is whether Santos can contain a Toluca attack that has already scored five against Atlas and four against Juarez this season, and the visitors have conceded nine across the last three meetings against the hosts.
Bruno Amione remains out with a long-term knee problem, while Lucas Di Yorio is recovering from his leg injury. Choco Lozano is also a doubt, leaving Renato Paiva with some decisions to make in attack and defence.
Toluca vs. Santos Laguna form guide & betting tips
| Toluca | vs | Santos Laguna |
|---|---|---|
D
W
W
W
W
|
Form | L
L
D
L
W
|
| 13 | Points | 4 |
| 2nd | Form Table | 14 |
| 12 | Goals For | 4 |
| 3 | Goals Against | 6 |
W
W
W
W
W
|
Form (All Comps) | L
L
D
L
W
|
Whispers predicts: Toluca 3-1 Santos Laguna
The Toluca win at 1.25 (1/4) is the clearest pick, but we are backing a home win and both teams to score at 2.35 (27/20) for value, an outcome that has been the case in the last three meetings between both sides.
There is also a case for over 2.5 goals at around 1.57 (4/7) given the attacking numbers from the home side and Santos' defensive record this season.
> Toluca to win at 1.25 (1/4) | Likelihood: Likely
> Over 2.5 goals at 1.57 (4/7) | Likelihood: Probable
> Toluca win and both teams to score at 2.35 (27/20) | Likelihood: Possible
> Correct score — Toluca 3-1 Santos Laguna at 8.20 (36/5) | Likelihood: Outsider