Liga MX: Tuzos host Atlas with revenge on their minds
Matchday 16 on Liga MX brings us a Finals rematch as two-time defending champions Atlas pay a visit to Pachuca’s Estadio Hidalgo tonight, the site of their most recent trophy presentation.
That’s right. Matchday 16. Tonight.
As part of the blueprint to complete the Apertura 2022 before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar, the Liga MX calendar-makers compressed the schedule (there are three Midweek Matchdays this season) and scattered the Matchday 16 games throughout August and September.
After the five Matchday 16 contests this week, there will be but two games remaining (León at Cruz Azul on Sept. 15; Mazatlán FC at Necaxa on Sept. 23)
Liga MX table tightens up
After speculating that the title-chase had become a three-team race, the trio of “runaway” front-runners stalled out. First -place Monterrey (21 points) has had two ties and a loss, second-place Toluca (also 21) has had a tie and a loss, while third-place Tigres (20) has gone 1-1-1.
These results have allowed red-hot América to climb within striking distance (19 points) thanks to a five-game win streak that has seen them outscore opponents 16-1. The Aguilas have scored 14 consecutive goals against opposing defenses.
“Los AzulCremas” hope to maintain their momentum Friday night against 14th-place Mazatlán FC and another win sets up a very attractive Matchday 12 clash against Tigres at Estadio Azteca.
Back to the Future
Let’s return quickly to Matchday 16, shall we.
Pachuca awaits a struggling Atlas side that is showing the effects of its recent success. Thanks to their extended playoff runs the past two seasons, the Zorros have played 57 matches in 13 months.
That workload is taking a toll this season. “Los Rojinegros” have been dealing with tired legs and a persistent injury bug. Skipper Aldo Rocha was shut down for five weeks after a severe hamstring injury in early August. His absence in midfield has been sorely missed.
The Tuzos also got off to a slow start and have only shown glimpses of the well-oiled machine that finished last season as the No. 1 seed before coming up short in the Finals. Guillermo Almada’s men have shown improvement in recent weeks and have climbed into 6th place, within sniffing distance of a Top 4 finish and the first-round playoff bye that goes with it.
Atlas arrives to Estadio Hidalgo on a three-game winless streak and must rev up a sputtering offense (11 goals in 10 games). That won’t be easy against one of the stingiest defenses in Liga MX (7 goals allowed in 9 matches).
Other Matchday 16 results
On Tuesday, Guadalajara stunned Monterrey 1-0 to earn a second consecutive win after opening the Liga MX season 0-6-2. Newcomer Santiago Ormeño scored his first goal in a Chivas jersey in minute 80.
That same night, América went through the motions against last-place Querétaro and did just enough to claim a 1-0 win thanks to a 48th-minute goal by 20-year-old defender Emilio Lara.
On Wednesday night, struggling UNAM nearly upset Tigres only to see André-Pierre Gignac head home in minute 90+6 to secure a 1-1 draw.
Next. Liga MX hopefuls to get one last El Tri tryout. dark
In Thursday’s second match, 5th-place Santos Laguna pays a visit to 8th-place Tijuana. Santos is coming off a 5-1 rout of UNAM in Mexico City while the Xolos were shocked by last-place Querétaro their last time out.