Querétaro nearly untouchable at home this season

Gallos Blancos have completed their 9 home matches for the Guard1anes 2021. And what a home season it was. They finished with a record of 6W, 2D, 1L, for a total of 20 points obtained at home (they have 21 in total so far). In other words, their home performances account for pretty much the entirety of their points. That’s pretty impressive for a team who finds themselves 11th overall in the league table and in danger of missing the playoffs.

Pity Altamirano’s squad trailed at home this season for a grand total of 2 minutes + stoppage time, which came in the Round 13 loss to Tigres - their only home loss of the season. Diego Reyes scored the game’s only goal in the 88th minute. As a matter of fact, Gallos were but a hair away from winning 8 out of their 9 matches. One of the two matches in which they drew was back in February, when they took a late lead against Puebla, only to see them respond in the 90th minute through a penalty. Their next home game, in early March, was against a gritty Chivas who trailed twice, and twice came back to tie. With Gallos up 2-1 in the 90th minute again, this time it was Miguel Ponce who evened it up at 2. As for their 6 victories, they didn’t trail a single second in any of those either. Only Cruz Azul and América have better home records until now.

So, why is this team in such a precarious position with a single game left on the regular season schedule? Simple. They’re the worst road team of the entire football year. That’s right, not just this season, but last season as well. They’ve played 7 matches on the road this season, in which they’ve compiled a 1D, 6L record. If that doesn’t seem like enough, since the start of the Guard1anes 2020 back in July, they’ve played a total of 16 road games. They haven’t won a single match, they’ve only drawn 3 and have lost the remaining 13. Their goal difference in those games is -21 (13 scored, 34 conceded). An absolute abomination of a road record.

That’s precisely why Gallos are desperately looking to finish between 6th and 8th (as 5th placed Santos are out of reach), so they can host the wild-card round match in La Corregidora, where they’ve been so good this season. And if they can find a way to beat León on Saturday, they stand a chance to make said spots. However, there is a catch. Gallos travel to León to face Los Panzas Verdes. That’s right. If they wish to make the playoffs by their own merit, they must go into the champs’ house and win their first road game of the year. A highly unlikely feat if you ask me, considering how poor and error-prone they’ve been when not in Querétaro.

With that being said, anything is possible in football. With León’s front office announcing Ambriz’s departure at season’s end yesterday night, that could cause unwanted distractions and speculation. If players aren’t 100% bought in to the situation, their lack of focus could cost them in the end if Gallos can come out with their A-game. However, it’s much more likely the players will take the other route and lay it all on the line for their head coach who has his days counted in León, as they go for a repeat of the Liga MX title.