Gone are 16 players from the Mexican Primera Division. Some, like Chivas' Javier Hernandez, will not come back while others may return sometime in May. Whatever the case, the league will have a different look to it now that the players are off to think about the World Cup and securing their own spots on the national team.
FRIDAY
Estudiantes vs. Tigres, 9 p.m. ET
Estudiantes will be trying to redeem themselves after losing 5-0 against Toluca; Tigres on the other hand surprisingly won 3-0 against San Luis after tough week for the club. The group three duel isn’t so much a duel for qualification into the Liguilla since the top half of the group is almost 10 points ahead. Jose Ramon Partida is suspended for Estudiantes and Rafael Medina, Rubens Sambueza and Diego Jimenez are out because of injury. Paulo Nagamura is out because of suspension and Everton Cardoso, Antonio Sancho and Edgar Castillo are injured and will be out for Tigres as well. Estudiantes has the worse defense in the league but 22 goals scored, while Tigres haven’t scored too much this season; they only have 14 goals this season.
Prediction: Estudiantes, 1-0
SATURDAY
Monterrey vs. San Luis, 6 p.m. ET
One of the top teams in the Bicentenario 2010 will be facing the seventeenth worse team in the league. Monterrey have not lost sine the second round of play and they’ll have a full squad for the game. San Luis has Edwin Hernandez out through suspension. Monterrey has only let in 11 goals this season, one less than San Luis has scored. Monterrey is second best in scoring, while San Luis has let in 25 goals this season. Greater motivation for Monterrey will be qualifying for the Liguilla, while San Luis is out.
Prediction: Monterrey, 2-0.
Queretaro vs. Toluca, 6 p.m. ET
Queretaro’s recent form is a stark contrast to their start to the season, while Toluca has turned their bad start to the season. The group one duel will be an important match-up as there is only one ticket left to the Liguilla available through the group. Only two points separate the teams(Toluca with 20 and Queretaro with 18) and as the season winds down the match up could prove to be decisive. Marco Antonio Gomez and German Villa are out due to suspension on Queretaro’s side. Toluca have a full squad available. Toluca has only let in 13 goals this season, but both teams are in the better half of the defensive table. However, a greater disparity occurs with scoring; Toluca have scored 21 times this season and Queretaro only have 11 goals.
Prediction: Toluca, 3-0
Jaguares vs. America, 6 p.m. ET
America need to start compiling wins soon. America is in fourth place in the Group 2 table with Morelia and Pachuca directly in front. If America fail to win and Monarcas and Tuzos both win their games, things could get dire pretty quickly. The club's visit to Jaguares will be difficult as the hosts will have plenty of momentum. A week ago, Jaguares routed Santos by 3-0 at their place and now return home in search of an elusive victory. Jaguares' lone win at home in the last calendar year was a 4-0 rout of Chivas on March 6. Jaguares have nothing to play for but pride, and America must take advantage of their rivals' position. Their season may depend on it.
Prediction: Draw, 1-1
Atlante vs. Cruz Azul, 8 p.m. ET
Perhaps it is fitting these two clubs meet at this point of the season. Cruz Azul have clinched a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League final earlier this week and will play Pachuca for the right to go to the Club World Cup. Last year at this time, Cruz Azul were struggling through league but still reached the CONCACAF final, and met up with Atlante there. Atlante won, of course, and wound up playing Barcelona in the Middle East. Cruz Azul are a much better team now. Their win over Pumas midweek was a commanding and forceful rout and la Maquina are growing in confidence and determination. Atlante, meanwhile, sit on 13 points with another lousy season nearly complete.
Prediction: Cruz Azul, 3-1.
Pachuca vs. Atlas, 8 p.m. ET
Pachuca are on a roll. Los Tuzos still aren't sitting in a great position, in Group 3's third place with 20 points, but Pachuca are coming off two consecutive victories. Pachuca have two difficult games left on their calendar, and this is not one of them. Pachuca will face Cruz Azul on Wednesday - the same Cruz Azul side they'll play in the CONCACAF Champions League final - and Toluca next weekend. Atlas are a lightweight on their schedule and with their growth in confidence los Zorros should not pose too much of a problem.
Prediction: Pachuca, 2-0.
Chivas vs. Morelia, 8 p.m.
What happened to Chivas since last they plaed? Well, five of their best players are gone as the national team came calling. But also one of their most talented players is gone as well. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez made the biggest leap of his life, joining Manchester United. Perhaps the buzz from the latter will offset the former. Whatever the case, Chivas need something to help take the sting off losing five top players. Morelia too lost Miguel Sabah for the cause but Chivas have to replace three attacking players, their anchor in the back as well as their goalkeeper, who was a big part of the club's success. Chivas are in the playoffs so the club could conceivably treat these last four games as preseason so this new-look club can get its act together in time for the Liguilla.
Prediction: Draw, 0-0.
SUNDAY
Pumas vs. Santos, 1 p.m. ET
Pumas may be the biggest losers in all of the national team's activity. Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti spoke out against the plan to take players away from their club teams and may have done so out of spite. After all, Pumas looked awful against Cruz Azul, and had the team they'll likely use against Santos on the field. Israel Castro, Efrain Juarez and Pablo Barrera were all important players for Pumas, but maybe they were more important than they were given credit for. Santos come in a bit wounded after having dropped a 3-0 shocker to Jaguares at home. Santos need something from this game to help avoid a late-season free fall.
Prediction: Draw, 1-1.
Puebla vs. Indios, 5 p.m. ET
Puebla's Herculez Gomez has become a local sensation. Having scored eight goals this season, Gomez is on pace to lead the league in goals with one goal every 75 minutes he's played. Problem is, he doesn't normally play 75 minutes in one game as he doesn't usually start. Gomez, though, fills the nets with regularity. That's about the only bright spot Puebla have to point to in an otherwise dreary year. Gomez and Co. will play an already-relegated Indios side and should have their way with them, particularly since the game will be in Estadio Cuauhtemoc.
Prediction: Puebla, 2-0.
No comments:
Post a Comment