Cruz Azul is expected to make a notable change to its setup when it hosts Atlas de Guadalajara on Saturday, August 22, with Erik Lira not included in the squad.
The match is scheduled for 21 hrs Mexico time and comes at an important moment for Cruz Azul, which has lost two consecutive Liga MX matches and was eliminated in the first round of the Leagues Cup. With those results in the background, the club will be looking to avoid slipping further away from the top places.
What is expected against Atlas
The projected lineup suggests Cruz Azul will move forward without Lira, who trained separately before Saturday. That creates an opening in a part of the team that can affect both the defensive midfield and central-back rotation.
While the starting eleven has not been officially confirmed, the anticipated group includes Kevin Mier in goal, with Willer Ditta, Chiquete Orozco and Omar Campos among the expected names in the defensive line. Amaury García is also part of the projected setup.
Joel Huiqui is another name connected to the preview of Cruz Azul's possible shape for the match. The broader takeaway is straightforward: Cruz Azul will need to manage a difficult league stretch without one of its regular options, and the absence of Erik Lira adds another layer of change to a lineup already under pressure to respond.
