Liga MX: Scatter-shooting ahead of Matchday 2
Rosters still in flux as Liga MX points toward Matchday 2
Names, names, names: América signed Sergio Díaz from Real Madrid. The 22-year-old Paraguayan will reinforce Miguel Herrera’s attacking options. Díaz joins compatriots Bruno Valdez (defender) and Richard Sánchez (midfielder).
The Aguilas also scooped up teenager Tarek Sirdah – born in Atlanta of a Mexican mother – who has been compared to Claude Makelele. Sirdah, 18, played with Atlanta United’s youth team and, most recently, trained with the Hannover 96 academy. He has been assigned to the Aguilas’ academy club.
Two strikers still on the market are Diego Rolán and Camilo Sanvezzo. Rolán starred for FC Juárez last season but his loan deal (from Deportivo la Coruña) ended in July. The Colombian scorer was being courted by América and Cruz Azul, but he insists he wants to stay with the Bravos. The question is, can the Bravos afford him?
It was odd to see Rubens Sambueza wearing the captain’s arm band for Toluca. The feisty Argentine only joined the “Choriceros” in the final week of the preseason. Sure, he recently spent two years with the Diablos (2017-2018) but the fact that nobody on the current roster earned the armband in the interim speaks to the dire straits in which the club finds itself. Also, it doesn’t seem wise that your captain is also your most likely player to be red-carded for acting out. As if to prove this maxim, Sambueza earned yellow Tuesday night for screaming at a side judge, then instigated a stand-off with Monterrey’s Jesús Gallardo.
Finally, Chivas right back Jesús Sánchez is out for 10 days after suffering an inadvertent face-rake from León fullback Yairo Moreno. Intentional or not, Sánchez needed sutures to repair a tear in the lining of his left eye socket.
Scoring leaders: André-Pierre Gignac (Tigres), Juan Ignacio Dinenno (Pumas), and Rogelio Funes Mori (Rayados) top the goal-scoring list after each struck for a brace. Gignac rippled the net twice against Necaxa, a favorite victim. The Frenchman has scored 7 goals in his past three games against the Rayos.
Goat of the Week: León superstar Angel Mena could be sitting atop the goleador list if he hadn’t misfired multiple times against the Chivas in their scoreless draw. Mena – two seasons removed from being league MVP – botched two sitters in stunning fashion. As TV Azteca commentator Luis García said “it was harder to miss so badly than it was to accidentally knock it into the net.” Both misses were uncontested point-blanks shots and then Mena flubbed another easy chance later on.
J.J.’s streak ends: After exploding onto the scene while on loan with León in 2019, Chivas sensation J.J. Macías scored in each of the three matches he played against his former mates since returning. On Saturday, however, the 20-year-old phenom failed to score against the Esmeraldas, and Guadalajara settled for a 0-0 draw.
Next. Cruz Azul scandal comes to light. dark
Lost funding: Atlético de San Luis announced that Atlético de Madrid was forced to end financial support for the Tuneros. It’s not clear to what extent finances were stopped as the La Liga club was said to have 50% ownership interest. What is clear is that players were forced to take a salary reduction and the San Luis front office is on the hook for the chunk of change laid out to acquire star striker Mauro Quiroga.