Liga MX is gearing up for one of the most exciting weekends of the 2026 Apertura. Matchday 8 features high-stakes matchups, including the “Clásico Joven,” the showdown between Chivas and Pumas, and the highly anticipated “Clásico Regio.” The bookmakers have already set their odds, and here’s a look at the favorites.
América is the favorite against Cruz Azul
Banorte Stadium will once again host an exciting “Clásico Joven” when Cruz Azul and América face off on the night of September 12 at 9:15 p.m. (11:15 p.m. ET)
Las Águilas, the league leaders, will look to take points from La Máquina, which has four wins in seven matches played. According to the odds, América are the favorite at +132 to secure the win.
However, recent history also gives Cruz Azul a case to make. It has been three years since América’s last victory over Cruz Azul in a regular-season match. That win came on September 3, 2023, when Julián Quiñones, Richard Sánchez, and Brian Rodríguez scored to secure the three points for the Azulcrema.
For its part, Cruz Azul has a more recent home victory to its credit. In Matchday 13 of the 2025 Apertura, the “Celestes” defeated América 2-1 with a goal by Gabriel Fernández, who remains with the club. A win for “La Máquina” is priced at +190.
Chivas looks like the clear favorite against Pumas
With one more game played, only two points separate Chivas from league-leading América. The Guadalajara-based team has four wins, two draws, and one loss—statistics that make them the clear favorite to defeat Pumas in Matchday 8.
Bookmakers have set Chivas’ odds at -205, while Pumas are at +520 to secure a victory at the Rebaño’s home stadium.
The team coached by Gabriel Milito lost only once—in their 2026 Apertura opener against Toluca. Since then, they have remained undefeated and are among the teams that score the most goals.
Pumas, for their part, are coming off a 3-1 win over León in their most recent match, but bookmakers consider a victory in Guadalajara unlikely. With odds of +520, those betting $100 on Pumas would receive $620 in total, while a $100 bet on Chivas, with odds of -205, would pay out $149.
Rayados are not such a clear favorite against Tigres
The Clásico Regio will also have its share of excitement. Tigres aren’t in their best form, having managed just one win in their seven matches and boasting one of the league’s five worst defenses.
Even so, the odds do not make Rayados such a clear favorite. According to Caliente.mx, Tigres is listed at +194 to win, while Monterrey is at +126.
Rayados are coming off a home loss to Atlético de San Luis in their last match in front of their fans. Now they’ll look to repeat against their archrival the victory they secured as hosts in October 2025, during Matchday 12.
In the recent history of the Clásico Regio, Tigres has unfinished business at Monterrey’s home stadium. It has been six years since the last time Tigres celebrated a victory over Rayados in a regular-season match. That victory came on Matchday 12 of the 2020 Apertura, when Leo Fernández and Nicolás López scored to secure the three points for Tigres.
The odds add excitement to Matchday 8, which promises plenty of thrills, with América, Chivas, and Rayados looking to dominate in their respective derbies.
