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Everything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’

By Thomas Buckley

Reigning Liga MX MVP Henry Martín (has passed a fitness test and will be available off the bench for América in tonight's "Super Clásico." (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Reigning Liga MX MVP Henry Martín (has passed a fitness test and will be available off the bench for América in tonight's "Super Clásico." (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Former Tigres defender Igor Lichnovsky (left) is expected to start for América in the “Super Clásico” after the Liga MX champions gifted the 29-year-old back-liner to the Aguilas. (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

Don’t look a gift … um, Tigre in the mouth

In still another bit of good fortune, América was basically gifted a free defender just when the club was in desperate need of reliable back-line help.

After central defenders Néstor Araujo (knee) and Israel Reyes (thigh) went down with injury, the Aguilas front office hurriedly went shopping for reinforcements but were unable to convince any of its targets to agree to a move to Liga MX.

At the same time, reigning Liga MX champion Tigres were burdened by a surplus of defenders.

Veteran center back Igor Lichnovsky had been told by the team that he would not be included on the roster this season, but were unable to find any takers for the 29-year-old Chile international and it looked like he might spend a season on drydock, no doubt lowering his value when he would become a free agent in December.

When his agents caught wind of América’s frantic search for a defender, they offered Lichnovsky to América but Santiago Baños and company politely declined.

The agents then convinced Tigres officials to agree to pay half of Lichnovsky’s salary if América agreed to take him on. Again, the Aguilas said “Thanks, but no thanks.”

So Lichnovsky’s representatives begged and pleaded with Tigres ownership to help and, since they were obligated to pay the defender’s full salary regardless, the club consented to send Lichnovsky to América AND pay his full wages.

The Aguilas glanced around furtively and said “Well … if you insist.”

So now the long-time Liga MX back-liner (Lichnovsky first entered the league with Necaxa in June 2017, spent two years with Cruz Azul, left for an 18-month stint in Saudi Arabia, and returned to Liga MX with Tigres in January 2022) looks likely to debut with América in a “Super Clásico.”

The good fortune with regard to Lichnovsky was somewhat dampened by the news that América might be without starting central defender Sebastián Cáceres. The Uruguay international played in both of the South American team’s World Cup qualifiers during the FIFA break and might need to be held out to ovoid overexertion.

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