Cruz Azul hosts FC Juárez in Liga MX Apertura 2026 matchday 12

Cruz Azul faced FC Juárez on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City during matchday 12 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026 tournament. Cruz Azul, currently in seventh place in the general standings, entered the match after drawing 3–3 with Pumas UNAM. FC Juárez, in 18th place, came off a 1–1 draw against Tijuana and had won only once in the Apertura 2026 season.

Cruz Azul deployed a 5-3-2 formation under manager Joel Huiqui, fielding goalkeeper Andrés Gudiño behind a five-player defensive line of Alán Mozo, Omar Campos, Gonzalo Piovi, Amaury García (or Amaury Morales), and César Montes. The midfield featured Alán Montes, Agustín Palavecino, Érik Lira, and Andrés Montaño, with Nicolás Ibáñez as the lone striker. FC Juárez, managed by Gustavo Lema, lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with goalkeeper Sebastián Jurado, defenders Francisco Nevárez, Eder López, Leonardo Rodríguez, and Luis Carmona, midfielders Daniel Piña and Gilberto Sepúlveda, and attacking players Denzell García, Óscar Estupiñán, Ricardinho, and José Luis Rodríguez.

Historically, Cruz Azul dominated the head-to-head record against FC Juárez, with 12 wins, 2 losses, and 3 draws across 17 total matches. In their most recent encounter on January 31, 2026, Cruz Azul won 4–3. The match was broadcast on Canal 5, ViX, and TUDN in Mexico, and on ViX and TUDN USA in the United States.