- Atlante have the head-to-head advantage with two wins in the last five meetings with Tepatitlán.
- Five of the last seven league matches between the sides have been either all square or decided by one goal.
Plenty to play for at Estadio Agustín Coruco Díaz
CF Atlante are the bookmakers’ odds-on favorites at 1.37 to beat CD Tepatitlán in Saturday’s Liga de Expansión playoff return leg, but the 5.78 about the visitors to progress cannot be discounted here. Our CF Atlante vs CD Tepatitlan de Morelos prediction considers the form and odds, looking at all the angles before the whistle blows.
Tepa arrived at this playoff phase via the play-in route after a mid-table finish during the regular season, but have shown their grit in the knockout rounds, not least in the first leg when they held off visitors Atlante for the majority of the 90 minutes before nicking the win with a 1-0 score.
Héctor Real’s side have been mixed in form, but the game plan he has installed is a solid one in which they line up in a compact 4-4-2 system and look to keep things tight at the back. This CF Atlante vs CD Tepatitlan de Morelos preview highlights how they build from the back, but can be dangerous on the counter-attack or from set-pieces when their mobile forwards and midfielders link up.
Familiar foes with much to prove
Juan David Angulo is their favourite finisher and has a good record against Atlante, while Mario Aguilar, who scored Tepa’s winning goal in the first leg, can be a threat on set pieces and in the box late in games.
Miguel Fuentes’ Atlante have an open, attacking style of play and it is unlikely they will change their game plan ahead of this one. The CF Atlante vs CD Tepatitlan de Morelos prediction also factors in their fluid 4-3-3 system, pressing high up the field and transitioning quickly to attack whenever they win the ball back.
They are not a one-trick pony and can dominate possession at times to try to work out their passing play and find space in the final third where Vladimir Moragrega is their focal point up front and has been in excellent form, both historically against Tepa and in this Apertura campaign. Luis Calzadilla is a threat on the flanks and has been in fine form lately, providing some key passes to help his side record one of the league's highest point totals.
Atlante have the firepower to level the playing field
This is a game that should favour the home side, who will be desperate to overturn the deficit and progress, but Tepa will be looking to cling on and a classic underdog story would be on the cards if they were to make it to the next round.
But the bookmakers have it right in installing Atlante as the clear favourites and a comeback win for the hosts makes plenty of appeal. The CF Atlante vs CD Tepatitlan de Morelos betting tips suggest that a shocking elimination for the top seeds would be a huge shock for the division, but with the visitors having the lead and being so disciplined, this could be a nervous game.
Atlante hammered Atlético La Paz 6-0 away from home in their final league game before the playoffs and their attacking power was in full flow. A wager on over 2.5 goals at 1.5 may appeal in this spot, particularly as the CF Atlante vs CD Tepatitlan de Morelos prediction points out, they will have to attack Tepa and chase the game at some point.
