Playing for 90
Fansided

Liga MX playoffs approach; Tigres sign Thauvin

By Thomas Buckley

Carlos González (right) battles two Atlas players for possession. González scored in minute 17 to lead the Tigres to a 2-0 victory. (Photo by Jam Media/Getty Images)
Carlos González (right) battles two Atlas players for possession. González scored in minute 17 to lead the Tigres to a 2-0 victory. (Photo by Jam Media/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Liga MX wildcard preview
Gonzalo Montes celebrates after scoring Querétaro’s only goal in his team’s 1-0 win over Santos Laguna on April 11. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) /

No. 12 Querétaro at No. 5 Santos

The Gallos Blancos reached the playoffs with the lowest payroll in Liga MX. They earned a wildcard berth despite a –6 goal differential.

On paper, this would appear to be a walkover for the overachieving Guerreros, but Querétaro has been a feisty team all season. Coach Héctor Altamirano won a title with Santos as a player back in 2001 but he’d like nothing more than to repeat Puebla’s feat of last season when the No. 12 Camoteros upset No. 5 Monterrey.

More from Liga MX

The Gallos Blancos are led by former Man United skipper Antonio Valencia but this could be his last game with the club as reports suggest he will return to his native Ecuador to retire. Valencia missed the last two games of the regular season with a muscle strain so his fitness is in question.

For “El Tren” Valencia to extend his stay in Liga MX, Angel Sepúlveda, Hugo Silveira and Jefferson Montero will have to figure out how to exploit the Santos defense, the league’s second best.

Goalie Gil Alcalá must be on his toes as Santos fired the third-most shots in Liga MX and was second in chances created.

The Guerreros have plenty of options in attack especially as midfielders Fernando Gorriarán and Diego Valdés returned from lengthy injury absences. In their stead, youngsters Santi Muñoz, Jesús Ocejo and Eduardo Aguirre stepped up their game. Wingers Juan Otero and Ayrton Preciado have also settled into their roles.

It will be interesting to see how coach Guillermo Almada juggles his line-up and whether or not he goes to his bench early. Since he prefers to play a high press and force the action, he might choose to wear down the Gallos by throwing bodies out there. But if the Guerreros fail to score early, Querétaro might be emboldened. And that might not bode well for Santos who lost 1-0 at Querétaro back on Matchday 14.

Home/Liga MX