Matchday 12 kicks off this weekend with three attractive contests for Liga MX fans, and topping the list is the third game of his month’s Super Clásico trilogy.
América and Guadalajara split the first two games of this classic rivalry – the Aguilas eliminating the Chivas from the Concacaf Champions Cup by virtue of a 5-3 aggregate advantage earned by winning 3-0 in Guadalajara on March 6 and the Chivas getting a small measure of revenge with their 3-2 win at Estadio Azteca on Wednesday.
The rubber game of this series takes place Saturday night at Estadio Akron with “El Rebaño Sagrado” desperate to knock the defending Liga MX champs of their perch and turn their season around.
Guadalajara had dropped four of five matches before edging América Wednesday night and Fernando Gago’s team has tumbled down into 9th place with 15 points. Gago’s job was even said to be on the line if the Chivas had lost all three matches against the Aguilar.
Wednesday’s victory might have offered a moment’s reprieve, but that in no way suggests Gago's job is safe, especially if Guadalajara suffers another loss at home to their hated rivals.
Unfortunately, the Chivas will face the Aguilas without captain Víctor Guzmán and defender Jesús Orozco Chiquete, both of whom earned one-game suspensions for picking up their fifth yellow card of the season during last Saturday’s Matchday 11 home loss to Léon
A third consecutive loss at the Akron – and two of them being against América (gasp!) – will certainly make Gago’s seat extremely hot.
The champs sit in second place with 24 points and have hit their stride with the return of playmaker Diego Valdés, scoring 15 goals in their past six games in all competitions.
A third consecutive loss at the Akron – and two of them being against América (gasp!) – will certainly make Gago’s seat extremely hot.
The champs sit in second place with 24 points and have hit their stride with the return of playmaker Diego Valdés, scoring 15 goals in their past six games in all competitions.
América will be without Israel Reyes who suffered a nasty gash on the back of his knee when Guadalajara’s Guzmán stepped on him during Wednesday’s game.
¡LA CARA DE ZENDEJAS LO DICE TODO! 😱😔
— CENTRAL FOX MX (@CentralFOXMX) March 14, 2024
Tras una disputa con Víctor Guzmán, Israel Reyes se llevó la peor parte y terminó con una herida que dejó preocupados a sus compañeros y cuerpo médico del América #CampeonesConcacafxFSMX pic.twitter.com/rF18NA3jNE
Reyes will be missed as he had been in fine form since taking over at right back, but André Jardine has another Team Mexico fullback, Kevin Álvarez, at his disposal. Reyes will miss El Tri’s Nations League semifinal next week after surgery to repair his leg.
Elsewhere in Liga MX
The other two must-see clashes this weekend are Cruz Azul at Necaxa and UNAM at Toluca.
The Necaxa-Cruz Azul contest features two teams bouncing back after a disastrous Apertura 2023.
The host Rayos are the Cinderella club of the season, sitting in 6th place just one season after finishing dead last. “Los electricistas” already have more wins and more points than they compiled last season and they are doing it with disciplined defense and timely scoring.
If not for Necaxa, Cruz Azul might be able to stake claim to being the feel-good story of the Clausura 2024. Under new coach Martín Anselmi, the third-place Cementeros have used high-intensity, heavy-pressing tactics to create havoc.
And “La Máquina Azul” is not sacrificing defense to engage in this high-risk strategy (although Anselmi has first-year goalie Kevin Mier to thank for that). Cruz Azul was the second-worst defense in Liga MX a season ago, finishing in 16th place. After 11 games this season, the Cementeros are the third-best defense (nine goals allowed).
On Sunday, Toluca, the only perfect Liga MX team at home after Pachuca was stunned by Querétaro last weekend, puts its 5-0-0 home record on the line against UNAM.
The fifth-place Diablos Rojos return to “La Bombonera” after a listless 1-1 draw at last-place FC Juárez a week ago.
The eighth-place Pumas are also looking to rebound after coughing up three penalties in a 3-3 tie against visiting 16th-place Tijuana, which – along with FC Juárez – are the only two Liga MX teams without a win this season.
This one promises to be a rugged back-and-forth affair as both playoff contenders are eager to right the ship as the Clausura 2024 heads for the clubhouse turn.
“Los choriceros” will have to slow down UNAM’s César Huerta who leads Liga MX with 6 assists after a 3-assist game against Tijuana. Striker Guillermo Martínez – second in the league with 6 goals – will also require attention from Toluca’s occasionally leaky back line.
Toluca will rely on midfielder Marcel Ruiz as well as wingers Alexis Vega and Jean Meneses to put pressure on the UNAM defense. The Diablos Rojos boast the No. 2 scoring offense in Liga MX with 22 goals in 11 games.