‘Super Clásico’ overshadows León’s title chase

Liga MX quarterfinals kick off in Puebla, then Guadalajara

León, the best team of the Guardianes 2020 season, opens its quest for an eighth Liga MX title on Wednesday. But it’s the other quarterfinal being played that night that everybody’s talking about.

For the first time in four years, we’ve got a “Super Clásico” treat in the playoffs. To put icing on the cake, Jalisco authorities have said they will allow fans at the game in Guadalajara, the first leg of the two-game series. (Well, to be specific, the authorities will allow only 12% capacity, so a little over 4,000 fans.)

The last time the Chivas battled América in the “Liguilla” was in November 2016, also in the quarterfinals. Then, the fifth-seeded Aguilas came away with a 2-1 aggregate win over No. 4 Guadalajara, taking the second leg 1-0 at Estadio Akron, the site of Wednesday night’s contest.

More from Liga MX

• Everything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’
• Baffling Liga MX ruling strips Puebla of a hard-earned victory
• Estadio Azteca will play host to two ‘Super Clásicos’ this weekend
• América in search of defensive help, Cruz Azul desperate for offense
• Scattershooting during the FIFA break: Liga MX transfer news

This time around, América is the higher seed – at No. 3 – so the first match will be hosted by the Chivas, the No. 7 seed. The second leg is set for Saturday at Estadio Azteca.

The Aguilas figure to have a considerable advantage with regard to player availability. Their last game was Nov. 6 and coach Miguel Herrera held out some banged-up players in that match since they had already clinched a first-round bye.

Central defenders Emanuel Aguilera and Sebastián Cáceres are fit and midfielder Nico Benedetti was back to full training this week after arthroscopic knee surgery in October.

On the down side, however, forwards Leo Suárez and Roger Martínez are ruled out after testing positive for Covid. Still, América has a deep roster so “El Piojo” should not want for options off the bench.

The Chivas, on the other hand, will be without its two top target men, Alexis Vega and J.J. Macías. Vega is out for the entire playoffs with an ankle injury while Macías could be available for Saturday’s return match if his thigh strain allows.

Even without their dynamic duo last weekend, the Chivas had more than enough to get past Necaxa in their wildcard match. Wingers Uriel Antuna and Isaac Brizuela will be charged with generating offense just as they did against the Rayos, while Angel Saldívar will be the lone striker. Jesús Angulo and Fernando Beltrán will be pressing forward from their midfield positions.

The emotion of a “Super Clásico” is usually enough to guarantee a high-intensity match, but Guadalajara players have added incentive. “El Piojo” mocked the Chivas’ lengthy absence from the playoffs (3 ½ years), saying during the season that it would be nice to see Guadalajara in the playoffs again.

Well now he’s got ’em. Like they say, be careful what you wish for.

León at Puebla

There will be no fans in Estadio Cuauhtémoc to witness the expected destruction of the host Camoteros. Then again, Liga MX pundits had Puebla getting routed by Monterrey in the wildcard round and yet Juan Reynoso’s team is still in the hunt.

That shouldn’t last long, though. Right?

Well, the last time the Esmeraldas were in the playoffs – as the No. 2 seed in the Apertura 2019 – they were shocked by No. 7 Morelia.

I don’t see that happening this time around. León enters the “Liguilla” on a 12-game unbeaten streak and they won the Liga MX regular-season crown by 8 points. The Esmeraldas also boast the league’s best defense (14 goals allowed in 17 matches) and captain Luis Montes is the heavy favorite for MVP laurels.

Winger Angel Mena led “La Fiera” in both goals (7) and assists (5), while Jean Meneses and Emmanuel Gigliotti are also capable scorers. But more than individual talent (of which there is a lot), León features the most fluid offense in Liga MX. The Esmeraldas flow forward irrepressibly and fullbacks Yairo Moreno and Fernando Navarro are known to prowl around the opponent’s net as well.

For their part, Puebla will try to frustrate the heavy favorites with disciplined team defense, absorbing pressure and looking to attack on the counter or from set pieces. Goalie Nicolás Vikonis will have to be on his toes, while Santi Ormeño, Daniel Alvarez and Omar Fernández must take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. And there aren’t likely to be many.