We’re still a month away from the end of the Liga MX regular season but a pair of games today promise playoff quality. And then Sunday’s Matchday 12 finale pits rising No. 8 Guadalajara (15 points) paying a visit to No. 6 Toluca (21).
Saturday’s matinee finds No. 3 Santos Laguna (22) at No. 4 Pachuca (21), while the nightcap could be the Game of the Season as No. 2 América (22) hosts No. 5 Tigres (21).
League-leading Monterrey (24) hosts minnows Mazatlán FC (11) and two-time Liga MX champs Atlas (9) face a make-or-break contest against visiting UNAM (9) in Saturday’s other matches.
A Midweek Matchday looms right around the corner so Liga MX clubs won’t have much time to celebrate (or commiserate) as the breakneck pace of the Apertura 2022 continues.
Liga MX Game of the Year?
Ignoring the sterile debate going on outside the stadium (Is this a “Clásico” or not?), the América-Tigres clash should be electric.
The Aguilas are on a six-game win streak (outscoring opponents 19-2) that has lifted the “AzulCremas” from the lower half of the Liga MX table into second place. Leading the charge has been Henry Martín who has 7 goals in the club’s past six matches.
They’ll be facing the stingiest defense in Liga MX, however, as Miguel Herrera’s men have conceded just 7 goals in 11 games.
Adding to the intrigue, “El Piojo” Herrera will be making his second return to Estadio Azteca to face the team he guided to two league titles before being dismissed in December 2020. The Tigres have come up short in both games against América since “Piojo” took charge in May 2021, the first coming at the Azteca in October last year. Henry Martín scored the lone goal in that contest.
The Santos at Pachuca match also promises considerable drama. The visiting Guerreros are on a four-game win streak in which they have netted 13 goals. Meanwhile Pachuca is finally demonstrating the form that saw them cruise to the No. 1 seed before losing in the Liga MX Finals last season.
The Tuzos’ midfield duo of Erick Sánchez and Luis Chávez is clicking again, but they’ll face off against determined pair in Fernando Gorriarán and Alan Cervantes.
The revived Santos offense (a league-leading 24 goals) won’t have it easy against Pachuca’s aggressive defense (9 goals allowed).
At the other end, the Guerreros back-line is prone to mistakes but netminder Carlos Acevedo has been sterling in covering them up. Acevedo played the full 90 minutes for Mexico against Paraguay on Wednesday but he should be between the pipes for Eduardo Fentanes.
Can champs recover in time to make playoffs?
The Zorros ended a 70-year title drought and then lifted the Liga MX trophy again the next season. But Atlas did that with a thin bench and the veteran squad is showing the wear-and-tear of playing 60 games in 14 months.
Coach Diego Costa has had to juggle his line-up as niggling injuries have taken a toll and the long-term loss of skipper Aldo Rocha cut out the team’s heart. “Los Rojinegros” have been riddled for 21 goals this season after allowing 26 in the past two seasons combined. The only consolation is that a few promising academy youngsters are getting playing time.
Coming for a visit to Estadio Jalisco are the stumbling, bumbling Pumas who have not won since July 17. A tie will do neither team any good (Atlas will only have four games remaining) and the loser might be out of the playoff hunt (though not mathematically).
League-leading Monterrey hosts undermanned Mazatlán FC whose dreams of making the Liga MX playoffs for a second consecutive season are hanging by a thread although the Cañoneros have a game in hand.
The Rayados will be hoping the Pachuca-Santos and América-Tigres matches end in draws so they can extend their lead atop the Liga MX table especially as all four of those teams have played one fewer game than Monterrey.
Elsewhere in Liga MX
On Saturday, Necaxa stunned León with three first-half goals then had to hold on for dear life as the Esmeraldas scored twice late to scare the Rayos. “La Fiera” had beaten Necaxa nine consecutive times.
Later, struggling Cruz Azul was gifted a man advantage only 4 minutes into their match at FC Juárez but failed to capitalize. The Bravos held their own, overcoming a 2-0 halftime deficit with two late Darío Lezcano goals to salvage a point.
On Friday, Atlético de San Luis battled Tijuana to a scoreless draw while Puebla extended its winless streak to 10 (0-9-1) with a 1-1 tie against last-place Querétaro.