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CL 2022 playoffs kick off with Wildcard Weekend

By Thomas Buckley

Winger Maxi Meza (left) and his Monterrey teammates will be under a lot of pressure to advance out of the Liga MX wildcard round while Javier Guemez (center) and Atlético de San Luis will be eeager to pull off the upset. (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images)
Winger Maxi Meza (left) and his Monterrey teammates will be under a lot of pressure to advance out of the Liga MX wildcard round while Javier Guemez (center) and Atlético de San Luis will be eeager to pull off the upset. (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images) /
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Erik Lira (left) and his Cruz Azul mates must keep tabs on Rodrigo Aguirre (right), Necaxa’s leading scorer in tonight’s Liga MX wildcard natch. Aguirre scored the game-winner vs the Cementeros in minute 90+5 when the teams met back on Matchday 5.  (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images)
Erik Lira (left) and his Cruz Azul mates must keep tabs on Rodrigo Aguirre (right), Necaxa’s leading scorer in tonight’s Liga MX wildcard natch. Aguirre scored the game-winner vs the Cementeros in minute 90+5 when the teams met back on Matchday 5.  (Photo by Agustin Cuevas/Getty Images) /

While top seeds Pachuca, Tigres, Atlas and América convalesce this weekend, four wildcard games will provide Liga MX fans with plenty of entertainment. Two preseason favorites – Cruz Azul and Monterrey – will host a pair of upstarts on Saturday, while Sunday’s doubleheader features long-shots.

While No. 8 seed Cruz Azul struggled to score and suffered through a ragged campaign, Necaxa rode a late-season three-game win streak into playoff position and held on to claim the ninth seed.

Monterrey boasts the biggest payroll in Liga MX but the Rayados got off to a pedestrian start before finding a comfort zone after a midseason coaching change, finishing seventh.

Atlético de San Luis had only made the playoffs once in its brief history but the Tuneros earned the reputation as a Giant-Killer this season and qualified – as the No. 10 seed – for its second consecutive playoff appearance.

Liga MX Wildcard Saturday

Necaxa at Cruz Azul

Necaxa defeated the Cementeros at Estadio Azteca back on Matchday 5 in Jaime Lozano’s first game in charge. Ironically, “Jimmy” didn’t actually coach that game as a positive Covid test forced him to watch it from home while in radio communication with his staff.

The Rayos were one of the best road teams in Liga MX, posting a 4-2-2 record and outscoring their hosts 13-8. For its part, Cruz Azul suffered five home losses this season, going a dismal 4-0-5 while being outscored 9-10 at “Fortress Azteca.”

Cruz Azul will be without All Liga MX Central Defender Pablo Aguilar who suffered a thigh strain in the season finale.

Coach Juan Reynoso has options, but the Cementeros will miss their stalwart on the back line. Veteran left back Adrián Aldrete could slide into the middle alongside Luis Abram or Reynoso might opt for Julio César Domínguez.

Necaxa will rely on the feisty Rodrigo Aguirre to take aim at net where Sebastián Jurado will once again be between the pipes in place of the rehabbing Jesús Corona.

Atlético de San Luis at Monterrey

The Tuneros shocked Monterrey at Estadio BBVA Bancomer handing the Rayados their only loss at home this season.

The stunning 2-0 victory came back on Matchday 7 and prompted Monterrey management to fire Javier Aguirre, bringing in Víctor Manuel Vucetich.

On that night in Feb. 26, San Luis was in last place with a 1-0-5 record and coach André Jardine had recently been brought in, so the win – powered by goals from Jhon Murillo and Abel Hernández – jump-started the Tuneros who went on a 4-2-1 run to climb into playoff position.

The veteran Monterrey squad won’t be bothered by the precedence. In their other eight home games this season, the Rayados went 5-3-0 with a 12-4 goal differential. Under Vucetich, Monterrey was 5-1-0 at “El Gigante de Acero.” Monterrey fans are among the most supportive in Liga MX and the home team will be counting on a very vocal crowd to animate “La Pandilla.”

Next. Pachuca tops final Liga MX Power Rankings. dark

We’ll look at Sunday’s matches tomorrow. Remember, the wildcard round is a one-game elimination match. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, the game goes directly to penalty kicks.

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