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Midweek Matchday offers chance for one hello, one goodbye

By Thomas Buckley

Dani Alves gestures during his presentation to the media after signing his contract with Pumas. He could make his Liga MX debut on Wednesday. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images)
Dani Alves gestures during his presentation to the media after signing his contract with Pumas. He could make his Liga MX debut on Wednesday. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Liga MX hello goodbye
Cruz Azul striker Santiago Giménez has scored a league-leading 5 goals this season and could be playing in his final Liga MX game tonight before moving to Feyenoord. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP via Getty Images) /

Matchday 5 is upon us already with five games Tuesday and three games Wednesday (the Santos at América contest was moved to Sept. 14 as the Aguilas play Real Madrid in a friendly tonight in San Francisco).

The Midweek Matchday has a couple attractive games on offer – Puebla at Monterrey and Toluca at León – but a potential debut and a possible adios are garnering greater attention among Liga MX fans.

Legendary right back Dani Alves signed with UNAM last week and he is expected to see his first action Wednesday night against Mazatlán FC.

The fanatical Pumas fans are more than eager to see the Brazil star wearing the “Azul y Oro” at the CU, and playing against the winless Cañoneros they’ll be confident of putting another one in the win column.

Final Liga MX match for ‘Chaquito’?

In San Luis, Cruz Azul striker Santiago Giménez – the top scorer in Liga MX (5 goals) – could be playing in his last game for “La Máquina” who are in the final stages of negotiating Santi’s transfer to Feyenoord.

The Dutch club submitted an initial bid two weeks ago, but the Cementeros rejected it. A second offer was also dismissed but the most recent package deal has met with the team’s approval. The latest report suggests that Cruz Azul is asking to retain more than 10 percent of his rights, but this is not expected to hold up the transaction.

Giménez, 21, is in his first season as first-choice striker for The Blue Machine and he has 20 goals and 11 assists since winning promotion to the senior club in 2019. Santi has a decent shot at making Mexico’s roster for the World Cup as the third striker.

The son of Cementeros legend Christian “Chaco” Giménez is expected to start tonight against Atlético de San Luis and could be on his way to the Eredivisie by the weekend.

Rayados-Camoteros battle is top match-up

First-place Monterrey (9 points) welcomes Puebla (8 points ) – one of four remaining undefeated clubs in Liga MX in the Game of the Week. The Rayados are the highest-scoring team in the league (10 goals) while the visiting Camoteros boast the second-best offense (8 goals).

In León, Esmeraldas fans will get to cheer against four men who were instrumental members of the “La Fiera” juggernaut that reached three Liga MX finals and won one title from 2018-2021.

Toluca coach Ignacio Ambriz guided León to three No. 1 seeds during that time while defender Andrés Mosquera and wingers Jean Meneses and Fernando Navarro looked good in green. Navarro was also a member of León’s back-to-back champions in 2013-2014.

dark. Next. Some stats and trivia as Liga MX hits quarter-pole

Toluca is in second place (3-1-0, behind Monterrey on goal differential) while the undefeated Esmeraldas are in sixth (1-3-0).

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