Can Chivas handle wounded Aguilas in Liga MX derby?
Guadalajara aims to get on a roll but face critical test at América
It’s Super Clásico Week but the América-Guadalajara contest is not the most attractive game on the Matchday 11 schedule. That’s heresy, I know, but I’m basing that claim on performance and not tradition.
The Aguilas play host to the Chivas in Mexico’s national derby on Saturday night, but Monday’s León-UNAM match pits the league-leading Pumas – the lone remaining unbeaten team in Liga MX – against a club that is currently playing the best football.
One consideration that I believe bolsters my argument is that games are still being played in empty stadiums.
If fans were allowed in attendance, the pageantry and excitement of an overflowing Estadio Azteca would make the Super Clásico the weekend’s clear No. 1 must-see game. But since fans will be hunkered in front of TV sets around the nation, the choice for “Most Attractive Game” must go to the one in which fans will see the best soccer.
But let’s not bicker and argue about this because the easy solution is to simply watch both games. So to help you do that, here’s a brief primer to get you ready for the Super Clásico. (We’ll look at the León-Pumas match in our next feature.)
The Liga MX derby
Guadalajara defeated their rivals in a pre-season Super Clásico, outscoring the Aguilas 4-3 in the semifinals of the Copa GNP. Then the Chivas lost their way.
A virus outbreak during the opening month of the Guardianes 2020 forced four starters to miss games and injuries deprived coach Luis Fernando Tena of another four players. The club’s dismal start (0-1-2) made history as the Chivas failed to score a goal in the first three games of a season for the first time ever. Tena was sacked and Víctor Manuel Vucetich was hired.
As “King Midas” settled in, disciplinary issues arose and starters Alexis Vega and Uriel Antuna were benched for a game. As August came to an end, Guadalajara was 2-2-3 with only 4 goals in 7 matches.
But then the club’s fortunes changed. Perhaps management’s stern approach with Vega and Antuna lit a spark.
Over the past three games, Vega and Antuna have taken part in 5 of the Chivas’ 6 goals. Vega has 1 goal and 3 assists while Antuna found the net twice – the first goals for “El Brujo” since joining the Chivas in December.
On the other end of the pitch, “El Rebaño Sagrado” has played solid defense from the opening whistle and its 8 goals allowed is third-best in Liga MX. Goalkeeping has been an issue, however, and Vucetich replaced error-prone José Antonio Rodríguez with Raúl Gudiño in the last game.
Gudiño did not shine between the pipes, however, and Vucetich has not announced who his starter will be on Saturday.