Santos Laguna at Toluca 5/20/18 - Liga MX Picks & Predictions
![Santos Laguna at Toluca 5/20/18 - Liga MX Picks & Predictions](https://res.cloudinary.com/pnp-staging/image/upload/f_webp,q_auto/v1668553745/sports-articles/e98843e1ae895d016c85ffea.jpg)
Now let's take a look at the most crucial match of the Mexican Liga MX, where Toluca will play host to Santos Laguna in the second leg of the Clausura finals. Santos Laguna almost suffered an upset in the first leg at home, but they reacted perfectly and saved the day.
Toluca pretty much dominated the Clausura this season (11-3-3), comfortably capturing the top spot with a seven-point deficit ahead of the 2nd Club America. However, they have struggled a little bit in the playoffs, as they needed two late goals in the first round in order to overcome Monarcas. In the semi-finals they did a better job against Club Tijuana (5-3 on aggregate). Last Thursday they did a great job against Santos Laguna on the road, as they took the lead at the 53rd minute with Quinones. They did eventually lose by 1-2 when they conceded two goals at the 71st and 89th minute, but that away goal has given them an advantage. Santos Laguna were not that good in the Clausura when they finished at the 4th spot (9-6-2), but they did a solid job in the playoffs. They overcame Tigres in the quarter-finals despite playing with 10 men for almost the entire second leg. They went on to destroye Club America by 1-4 at home in the first leg of the semi-finals, and came back from two goals behind to hold out for a 2-2 draw in the second leg. Santos Laguna will now have to defend their slim lead from that 1-2 win at home against Toluca, but they surely wish they hadn't conceded that goal.
There has been total balance in the five matches these two have played against each other this season (2-2-1), for the Apertura, the Clausura and the Copa Mexico. Toluca have won both matches at home this season, but those were their only home wins against Santos Laguna since 2013 (2-2-3). Toluca need to score here and also play good defense, but this can go either way. I will take the Under 3 Goals here, as Santos Laguna have failed to score in two trips to this venue this season.