Battle royales on tap at top and bottom of tables

Liga MX powerhouses scramble to escape cellar

Just four months ago, América and Monterrey waged war for North American supremacy with the Rayados edging past the Aguilas to claim the Concacaf Champions League trophy.

In the past week, the two Liga MX giants fired their managers and tonight they’ll be scrapping to escape the basement. This despite the fact that the clubs boast the highest payrolls in Liga MX – Monterrey at $103.12 million dollars and América at $90.28 million dollars.

Monterrey will be guided by Víctor Manuel Vucetich, brought back by Rayados management to reprise the Glory Days under “King Midas.” Vucetich led the club to two Liga MX titles and three ConcaChampions trophies between 2009 and 2013. He replaces Hugo Castillo who served as interim manager after Javier Aguirre was fired last weekend.

The Rayados are winless at home (0-2-1) and are mired in 17th place, just above América thanks to point differential (+1 to –5) and they have the advantage of two games in hand (thanks to their disastrous Club World Cup adventure last month).

As for The Winningest Team in Liga MX history (América has a league-best 13 regular-season trophies), they’ll be visiting Monterrey with an interim coach – Fernando Ortiz, the director of the club’s Under-20 academy.

For the first time in five years, the Aguilas are in the Liga MX basement. That most recent visit to the cellar came back in the Clausura 2017 when the Aguilas opened the season with three straight losses and fluttered to a ninth-place finish under Ricardo La Volpe. That was also the last time América failed to make the Liga MX playoffs.

Sitting on 6 points, a draw could keep these two teams in the cellar depending on what Mazatlán (7 points) and Atlético de San Luis do (7 points).

Elsewhere Saturday, Chivas coach Marcelo Michel Leaño might be facing his last game in charge. With the Liga MX “Super Clásico” looming next weekend and Guadalajara stuck in the middle of the table (10th place), a home loss against 14th-place Santos Laguna could cost him his job.

On Sunday, the eighth-place Pumas host struggling Mazatlán FC while Atlético de San Luis visits Tijuana in the nightcap.

Tijuana is in 17th place in the “Relegation Standings” while San Luis is just one spot above. A draw does neither team much good though both teams have flashed decent form through eight games.

Last place FC Juárez already lost its Matchday 9 contest and the Bravos appear destined to be stuck with one of the relegation penalties, while Necaxa and Mazatlán are not out of danger so all is not yet lost for the Tuneros and Xolos.