Guadalajara vs SJ Earthquakes Prediction: Chivas are expected to leverage their recent momentum and home advantage to secure a 2-0 win over the struggling San Jose Earthquakes in this Leagues Cup clash.
The Leagues Cup continues to captivate soccer fans across North America as CD Guadalajara prepares to face the San Jose Earthquakes in a highly anticipated Group West 2 matchup. Set to take place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, this encounter promises an intriguing battle between Liga MX and MLS sides.
Match Details
Match | Guadalajara vs SJ Earthquakes |
Competition | Leagues Cup |
Date | July 28, 2024 |
Time | 02:00 AM UTC |
Venue | Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) |
Match Preview
Both teams enter this competition with contrasting recent form, setting the stage for an unpredictable affair. Guadalajara, commonly known as Chivas, arrive on the back of two consecutive 2-0 victories in Liga MX. Their most recent triumph came against Mazatlán FC, where goals from Cade Cowell and Armando Gonzalez secured the win.
On the other hand, San Jose Earthquakes have struggled of late, suffering three straight defeats in MLS play. Their last outing resulted in a 2-0 loss to Minnesota United, leaving them eager to turn their fortunes around in this tournament.
Projected Guadalajara vs SJ Earthquakes Lineups and Formation
CD Guadalajara (4-3-3): Chavez, Guzman, Gonzalez, Gutierrez, Sepulveda, Chicharito, Alvarado, Mozo, Rangel, Beltran, Cowell
San Jose Earthquakes (4-4-2): Rodrigues, Yueill, Beason, Lopez, Ebobisse, Espinoza, Kikanovic, Verhoeven, Gruezo, Pellegrino, Story
Key Players to Watch
For Guadalajara, all eyes will be on Cade Cowell, who has found the back of the net in three consecutive matches. His recent form could prove crucial in breaking down the Earthquakes’ defense.
San Jose will look to Cristian Espinoza for creativity and goal-scoring opportunities. The Argentine winger has been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season for the Earthquakes.
Injury and Availability Report
CD Guadalajara:
- Jesús Orozco is a doubt for this match after being substituted with an injury concern during Guadalajara’s victory over Mazatlán. His status will likely be a game-time decision.
San Jose Earthquakes:
- JT Marcinkowski remains sidelined with a knee injury.
- Jamar Ricketts is unavailable due to a groin problem.
- Daniel has been out of action since mid-March with a shoulder injury and is not expected to feature.
- Daniel Munie is ruled out with a head injury.
Players Unavailable Due to International Duty (San Jose Earthquakes):
- Cruz Medina
- Emi Ochoa
- Niko Tsakiris
These absences, particularly for San Jose Earthquakes, could significantly impact the team’s lineup and strategy for this Leagues Cup encounter. Guadalajara appears to have fewer injury concerns, which may give them an advantage in terms of squad depth and selection options for this match.
Where to Watch
Fans in the United States can catch the action live on various platforms:
- Univision
- TUDN USA
- Fox Sports 1
- TUDN.com
- MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Guadalajara vs SJ Earthquakes Live Stream and TV Schedule for Other Countries:
- Canada: MLS Season Pass, TSN3
- Mexico: MLS Season Pass, ViX, Nu9ve
- UK: MLS Season Pass
- Germany: MLS Season Pass
- France: MLS Season Pass
- Spain: MLS Season Pass
- Italy: MLS Season Pass
- Brazil: MLS Season Pass
- Argentina: MLS Season Pass
- Japan: MLS Season Pass
Head-to-Head and Recent Form
This match marks the first-ever meeting between CD Guadalajara and San Jose Earthquakes, adding an element of unpredictability to the encounter.
Guadalajara’s last 5 matches:
- W 2-0 vs Mazatlán
- W 2-0 vs Querétaro
- L 4-2 vs Tijuana
- D 0-0 vs Toluca
- L 0-3 vs Pachuca (friendly)
San Jose’s last 5 matches:
- L 2-0 vs Minnesota United
- L 1-0 vs Houston Dynamo
- L 2-1 vs Sporting Kansas City
- W 1-0 vs Chicago Fire
- L 2-0 vs St. Louis City
Prediction and Who Will Win
Given their recent form and home advantage, Guadalajara enters this match as slight favorites. Their attacking prowess, particularly through Cade Cowell, could prove too much for a struggling San Jose defense.
Guadalajara vs SJ Earthquakes Prediction: CD Guadalajara 2-0 San Jose Earthquakes
While San Jose’s recent results have been disappointing, the change of competition could provide a fresh start. However, Guadalajara’s momentum and offensive firepower are likely to see them through in a closely contested match.
Standings
As this is the opening match of the Leagues Cup Group West 2, both teams currently sit level on 0 points. The group also includes LA Galaxy, setting up an intriguing three-way battle for qualification to the next round.
This encounter promises to be an exciting start to the Leagues Cup campaign for both sides, with valuable points and bragging rights on the line. Soccer fans across North America will be eagerly anticipating the clash between these two teams from different leagues, each bringing their unique style and approach to the game.
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