2019 match preview: Atlas vs. Santos Laguna

Game: Atlas Fútbol Club vs. Club Santos Laguna S.A. de C.V.

Date: Friday, August 2nd

Time: 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 9:00 p.m. Central, 7:00 p.m. Pacific, 2:00 a.m. UTC

Venue: Estadio Jalisco (Guadalajara, Jal.)

Referees: REF: Adonai Escobedo González, AR1: José Alfredo López Cruz, AR2: Alejandro Ayala Valderrama, 4TH: Louis Adrian Vielmas Valdez

Television: United States - TUDN; Mexico - Azteca 7

Streaming: fuboTV (Free trial + monthly subscription), Sling TV (Free trial + monthly subscription), Univision NOW

All-time record: Santos holds the all-time record across all competitions, winning 31 to Atlas’ 16 while the clubs have drawn 25 times. The clubs drew both their meeting in the 2003-04 Interliga and in the 2009-10 SuperLiga, with all other results being in Liga MX play. Atlas won the last meeting, a 1-0 affair at Estadio Jalisco back on March 29 in Week 12 of the 2019 Clausura.

Photo by Manuel Guadarrama/Getty Images

This week Santos went to Guadalajara and as they often do on road trips, they stopped at local charity CODENI, which helps some of Guadalajara’s poorest children “overcome their dependence on the street and break the cycle of poverty in their families.” They were also joined by Atlas in this project, with both having adopted the “Ganar sirviendo es la único opción - Winning by serving is the only option” motto as both are now under the ownership of Orlegi Sports.

While the teams came together for this good cause, it’s all business when they meet on the pitch at historic Estadio Jalisco on Friday night. Both teams are unbeaten so far on the season, joining UNAM Pumas as the only teams sitting at six points. Santos has played well, beating both Guadalajara and FC Juárez by 3-0 scorelines at Estadio Corona TSM.

Santos has succeeded by playing a counterattacking style that doesn’t rely solely on one point of attack. Goals have come from winger Brian Lozano, forwards Adrián Lozano and Julio Furch, and defenders Matheus Doría and Emilio Orrantía, so it’ll be on Atlas to try and find out where the offense will come from and neutralize it if possible.

Photo by Angel Castillo/Jam Media/Getty Images

Atlas on the other hand has been a surprise coming into the Apertura. They were able to beat Juárez 1-0 at home and Monarcas Morelia 1-0 in Morelia, looking to be rather conservative on defense. They’ll need that conservatism to help rein in Santos’ offense, and they’ll also need to take full advantage of any chances that come their way.

Atlas shares more than just an ownership group with Santos. Javier Correa, Martín Nervo, and Jesús Angulo are all currently on loan from Santos, and Osvaldo Martínez, Edson Rivera, and Jesús Isijara having spent time with Los Guerreros. All six players have started both games for Atlas.