Cruz Azul: hectic schedule, strengths, weaknesses, Flamengo insight

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Coluna do Fla

·5 dicembre 2025

Cruz Azul: hectic schedule, strengths, weaknesses, Flamengo insight

Coluna do Fla spoke with journalist Fernando Villalobos from Diario Récord, Mexico

Flamengo is going through a tough final stretch of the season, with one decisive match after another. However, their opponent next Wednesday (10th), Cruz Azul, is in a similar situation. Mengão’s rival in the first match of the Intercontinental Cup is in the semifinals of the Mexican Championship and faces a decisive clash just before flying to Qatar.

To learn a bit more about the team, which is in the Intercontinental Cup for having won the last ConcaChampions (the ‘Libertadores’ of Central and North America), Coluna do Fla had a chat with Mexican journalist Fernando Villalobos from Diario Récord. The reporter highlighted the team’s strengths and weaknesses, their favorite tactical setup, and how Flamengo is viewed in Mexico.

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WHAT IS THE FAVORITE TACTICAL SETUP?

— In Cruz Azul under (coach Nicolás) Larcamón, the full-backs are fundamental. The team usually opts to play with three center-backs and wing-backs who exploit both flanks. It’s a 5-4-1 formation in defense and 3-4-2-1 in attack. Erik Lira, playing as a libero in central defense and moving up to midfield when attacking, is a key piece of the team — said Fernando.

— Cruz Azul is a very associative team, ball possession is one of its greatest virtues, and they have had a clear game plan for some time. This style was implemented during (former coach) Martín Anselmi’s time (who is now at Porto-POR) and Nicolás Larcamón has continued it — he added.

WHAT IS CRUZ AZUL’S WEAKNESS?

Cruz Azul has a ‘similar’ problem to Flamengo. Currently, Filipe Luís’s team struggles with the absence of a number 9 due to Pedro’s injury. In the Mexican team, according to Fernando, no player has the characteristic of putting the ball in the back of the net.

— The center-forward position must be one of Cruz Azul’s weakest points, because, despite being a team that scores a lot, they don’t have a striker who makes a big difference. In the middle of the year, Gabriel Fernández was not expected to stay on the team and they were looking for a way out, but the board couldn’t sign anyone to replace him, so he ended up staying and has become a starter in recent weeks — he reported.

— Ángel Sepúlveda has been the team’s most consistent scorer in recent years, however, for various reasons, Larcamón hasn’t given him an undisputed starting spot and by alternating with Fernández, his goal tally has dropped in this tournament — Fernando pointed out.

IS THE MEXICAN SCHEDULE ALSO TIGHT?

While Flamengo will have a week to rest, since they’ll field the under-20 team against Mirassol this Saturday (6th), Cruz Azul will keep their ‘foot on the gas’. This Wednesday (3rd), Mengão’s opponent drew 1-1 with Tigres (MEX) at home and will fight for a spot in the Mexican Championship final as visitors on Sunday (7th), at 12:10 a.m. Brasília time.

— The Liga MX format is “special”. It’s not a league won by points, but rather a regular phase of six months (Apertura 2025) and then the top eight teams play the Final Phase, called Liguilla (Playoffs). That’s why the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final are played over two legs, with matches twice a week — Fernando explained.

— Cruz Azul’s tight schedule could be a factor in Flamengo’s favor, as there’s a chance Cruz Azul could reach the final of Mexican football and need to travel to Qatar to play the Intercontinental Cup, then return to Mexico to compete in the local final on December 25 and 28 — he detailed.

WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT FLAMENGO IN MEXICO?

In summary, Flamengo hasn’t faced a Mexican team since 2014, when they took on León (MEX) in the Libertadores. Even though Mengão is far from the country’s spotlight, the Most Beloved is known and respected in Cruz Azul’s homeland. Besides the club’s history and the weight of their shirt, the ‘European’ squad led by Filipe Luís draws attention.

— In Mexico, Flamengo is recognized as one of the biggest teams in Brazil. For many, the biggest. But the reality is that the Brazilian league is not widely followed here. The players who stand out the most in the current Flamengo squad are those who had successful stints in Europe, like Danilo, Alex Sandro, Jorginho, and Saúl Ñiguez. And of course, Giorgian de Arrascaeta — said Fernando.

WHAT WERE THE OTHER TOPICS OF THE INTERVIEW?

Flamengo, Libertadores champion, and Cruz Azul, winner of the Concachampions in June, will face each other in the ‘Derby of the Americas’ of the Intercontinental Cup next Wednesday (10th). The match kicks off at 2 p.m. (Brasília time), in Qatar. Check out below other points from Fernando Villalobos’s interview with Coluna, from Diario Récord.

FROM THE CHAMPION TEAM IN JUNE UNTIL NOW, MANY CHANGES?

“The core of the team is practically the same as the one that won the Concachampions in the middle of the year, however, there are two new pieces that are now key to the team, one on the field and one on the bench. Nicolás Larcamón took over as Cruz Azul’s head coach after Vicente Sánchez left. As interim coach, he led ‘La Máquina’ to the title, but due to differences with the board, he did not remain in charge. José Paradela, a former River Plate player who came to Mexico to shine at Necaxa, became a reinforcement for Cruz Azul last summer and immediately became a key player for the team, an undisputed starter in midfield.”

WHO IS THE STAR OF THE TEAM?

“Cruz Azul is a team that, despite having one of the best squads in Mexican football, does not have a ‘star’ who stands out notably from a group of great players with a high and very similar level, which is enhanced by teamwork: Erik Lira, ‘Charly’ Rodríguez, and ‘Nacho’ Rivero are the pillars on the field. Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Rivero is the man with the most seniority at Cruz Azul, the only one left from the team that won Liga MX in 2021, the team captain, and the player who usually steps up in critical moments and important matches.”

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE INTERCONTINENTAL CUP IN MEXICO?

“The Intercontinental Cup carries a lot of weight for Mexican clubs. Until a few years ago, it was the Club World Cup and represented the most important opportunity to compete against the best in the world. Although the reality is that Liga MX clubs’ performances have historically not been good, with a few exceptions.”

DOES CRUZ AZUL DREAM OF REPEATING PACHUCA’S FEAT, WHO MADE THE FINAL AGAINST REAL MADRID LAST YEAR?

“Of course, matching Pachuca’s feat would be a great achievement for Cruz Azul, as it would equal the second-best performance by a Mexican club in this tournament. — counting the old Club World Cup as well — only Tigres and Pachuca have reached the final.”

DID MEXICO WATCH THE LIBERTADORES FINAL BETWEEN FLAMENGO AND PALMEIRAS?

“Since Mexican clubs stopped participating in the Copa Libertadores, the tournament has been followed less and less. And I could say that the average fan only pays special attention in the final stages when the title is decided. The championship final between Flamengo and Palmeiras drew more attention because it was known that the winner would face Cruz Azul in the Intercontinental Cup.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.