Olympic qualification over, Liga MX set to return
Northern clubs look to hit their stride
Third-place Santos Laguna was hit with a massive blow during the FIFA break as midfield fireplug Fernando Gorriarán apparently tore an abductor muscle during training and will miss up to six weeks. The Uruguayan will have a tough time being fit for the playoffs and the youthful Guerreros will have to step up to replace their leader (“Gorri” had not missed a single minute of action through 12 games). Coach Guillermo Almada has his work cut out for him.
In the northwest, Tijuana hopes to be back on track after defeating the visiting Gallos Blancos on March 20, the first time the Xolos had beaten Querétaro in seven all-time meetings. The 3-1 victory ended Tijuana’s 5-game winless streak and kept them in the top half of the table (8th place) ahead of the hard-charging Esmeraldas of León. The champs won their second straight in convincing fashion and sure seem poised to make a deep postseason run.
Fourth-place Monterrey hosts the hard-luck Tuneros coming off an extended layoff. Their Matchday 12 opponent – the Chivas – petitioned for and were granted a postponement since six of their players are on the Olympic qualifying team meaning Monterrey will have been off for three full weeks when the whistle blows at Estadio BBVA Bancomer.
Coach Javier Aguirre has his Rayados playing stingy defense (7 goals allowed in 11 games) but the offense has yet to start clicking (15 goals scored). With the talent on the roster (the deepest and most expensive roster in Liga MX), one would suspect it’s only a matter of time.
Across town, the Tigres appear to be in serious trouble. Since returning from Qatar with a second-place trophy in the FIFA Club World Cup, “Los Felinos” have gone 1-2-4 and are winless in their past five (0-2-3). Coach “Tuca” Ferretti will be back on the sidelines after hip surgery, and he’ll have to find a way to light a spark under his veteran club. One way to do that might be to juggle his line-up, but the cantankerous coach is famous for sticking with his favorites, regardless of how many minutes they’ve logged.
Tigres fans will be hoping that the FIFA break will have allowed their heroes to re-energize for the stretch run. The return of midfielder Rafa Carioca (a back injury that sidelined him for the 1-0 loss to Pachuca) will be key to the team’s fate.
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Notes: Puebla’s Santi Ormeño is the top Mexican-born scorer in Liga MX with 7 goals. Angel Sepúlveda (Querétaro), Henry Martín (América) and J.J. Macías (Chivas) follow with 6 goals each. Ahead of Ormeño are Argentines Alexis Canelo of Toluca (9 goals), Rogelio Funes Mori of Monterrey (8 goals) and Nicolás Ibáñez of Atlético de San Luis (8 goals).