Cruz Azul Atlas standings put Atlas second before Banorte
Atlas sit second in Liga MX with 12 points after five matches, while Cruz Azul are 12th on six — a sharp gap in the Cruz Azul Atlas standings ahead of their Saturday clash at Estadio Banorte. Kickoff is set for 23:00 on 22 August 2026, with bookmakers still pricing the hosts as favorites despite recent form.
Key Takeaways
- Atlas lead the early table at second with 12 points; Cruz Azul sit 12th on six from five games.
- La Máquina arrive on back-to-back Liga MX defeats; Atlas have stacked successive away wins.
- Bookmakers list Cruz Azul at -192; tipsters lean Atlas Asian Handicap +1.25 at -133.
- Confirmed shapes: Cruz Azul in a 5-3-2 and Atlas in a 4-2-3-1 at Estadio Banorte.
The table twist is the story. Atlas (4-0-1, eight goals scored, five conceded) have outpaced Cruz Azul (2-0-3, eight scored, 10 conceded) across the first five Liga MX fixtures, according to SportsGambler’s match preview.
That gap matters because the hosts still carry the bigger name and the shorter price, even as the Cruz Azul Atlas standings paint Atlas as the hotter side. For more sports-adjacent buzz, browse our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
Where do Cruz Azul and Atlas sit in the table?
Atlas hold second place on 12 points. Cruz Azul are 12th with six points from the same five-game sample.
Form lines reinforce the split. Cruz Azul fell 2-1 away to Club Tijuana after another league loss, despite 58% possession and six shots on target, with Nicolás Ibáñez scoring. Atlas followed successive away wins with a 2-1 home victory over Tigres UANL, goals from Manuel Capasso and Luis Esteves.
Head-to-head still favors the home side historically: Cruz Azul have beaten Atlas in three straight meetings, including a 1-0 win in the last Banorte meeting. Across the past 10 H2H games, the ledger reads four Cruz Azul wins, four draws and two Atlas successes.
Who is favored in the odds and predictions?
Markets still side with Cruz Azul at -192 — an implied win chance near 66% — with Atlas out at +460. Over 2.5 goals sits near -139, and Both Teams to Score Yes is listed around -128.
SportsGambler’s main pick is Atlas on the Asian Handicap +1.25 at -133, arguing the visitors have covered that line in five straight road games. Their correct-score lean is 1-1 at +575. Player props highlighted include Christian Ebere over 1.5 shots on target at +160 and Carlos Rodríguez anytime scorer at +525.
What are the confirmed lineups for Saturday?
Cruz Azul’s confirmed 5-3-2: Kevin Mier; Willer Ditta, José Paradela, Jesús Orozco, Jeremy Márquez, Omar Campos; Agustín Palavecino, Andrés Montaño, Carlos Rodríguez; Nicolás Ibáñez, Christian Ebere.
Atlas’s confirmed 4-2-3-1: Camilo Vargas; Gaddi Aguirre, Manuel Capasso, Rodrigo Adrián Schlegel, Milton Valenzuela; Edgar Zaldívar, Paulo Ramírez; Duk, Arturo González, Luis Esteves; Florian Monzón.
Odds and lines were captured around publication on 21 August 2026 and can move. Always check live prices, and only wager if you are of legal age — gambling carries risk.