No excuses for the 18 teams competing in Week 2 -- the rust is off and mid-season form needs to keep developing.
The champions will avoid falling into a deeper hole as they face equally desperate Estudiantes Tecos in Guadalajara, Atlante will face Cruz Azul in a sparkling match that pits two offensive styles.
Guadalajara and América, the two league giants, will search for their first win of the season after disappoint debut outings, and Santos Laguna may bid adieu to their biggest star and consequently put a hit out on their own title chances in the Clausura 2011, having made it to the past two without success.
In Guadalajara, Matchday 2 will kickoff with the defending champions taking on Estudiantes Tecos at the Tres de Marzo. Both teams are reeling off of hard losses that will most likely create the scenario for entertaining, offensive football as both clubs will attempt to go all out for the three points up for grabs.
Monterrey fielded a somewhat alternative lineup in their 2-0 defeat to San Luis at home last week. Estudiantes Tecos were thrashed 4-1 in their season debut against Cruz Azul. Jose Luis Sanchez Sola's first match as manager was spoiled by a fantastic offensive display by the Blues.
The visitors will be without manager Victor Manuel Vucetich and William Paredes due to suspension, while Luis Pérez will be out battling an injury. Rubens Sambueza, the Tecos striker - is also suspended.
A 1-0 win has the Jaguars off to a flying start in the league, and they'll get Jackson Martinez back to spearhead their attack in the home opener.
Contrast that to the visitors, who may be without two key starters in Adolfo Rosinei and Vicente Sánchez, banged up by injuries. Pavel Pardo, the América captain, will return to the middle of the club's lineup. América lost their season opener against Pachuca, as the Tuzos struck for two goals at the Estadio Azteca.
The match will feature two of the three teams that have qualified for the 2011 Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club tournament.
San Luis will host Puebla in its inaugural home match for 2011, as the Gladiators come off a win against defending champions Monterrey in Week 1 of the competition.
Puebla on the other hand were held to a draw against Guadalajara as they opened the season at home in the Estadio Cuauhtémoc last week. The game will feature 21 of the two 22 regular starters for both teams. Only Melvin Brown is ruled out due to injury.
The visitors will rely on Félix Borja, the lanky striker to help them generate offense against the solid San Luis defense. The Gladiators will counter with youngster Othoniel Arce at the front of their attack.
Monterrey will play host to Tigres' home debut of the Clausura 2011, as Ricardo Ferretti's men take on Necaxa in a match that will feature two winless teams.
The Tigers failed to impress in Querétaro, falling behind 2-0 to the Gallos Blancos and then relying totally on their captain Lucas Lobos to get back into the game.
Necaxa were also unimpressive in their loss during Matchday 1. They will be without Jesus Palacios and Paulo Cesar Chavez due to suspension. Tigres could be without playmaker Damian Alvarez, who is nursing an injury.
Pachuca and Toluca will face each other at the Estadio Hidalgo in a match that pairs two of the most successful teams in the Mexican league in the past decade.
After Pachuca's 2-0 victory against América at the Estadio Azteca, the Tuzos will come home and face new-look Toluca, led by manager Sergio Lugo.
The Diablos Rojos extended their winless streak dating back to the Apertura 2010 and will try to get their season going as soon as possible to avoid a repeat of last season's failure to reach the postseason.
At the Estadio Jalisco, Atlas will take Querétaro on in a match that pits two of the teams that will battle it out this season to ensure they are not relegated to the second tier of Mexican football.
Atlas are the league leaders by way of a 5-0 drubbing of Morelia in the first game of the season, a match that was marred by the lack of fans in the seats due to the veto on the stadium for that particular match.
Querétaro had a golden opportunity to cement a flying start to the Clausura 2011 campaign against Tigres, but ended up drawing against Ferretti's men thanks to a fantastic performance by Lucas Lobos.
Carlo Costly, Atlas' Honduran striker, will most likely make his debut for the Mexican club in the second game of the season. Costly was raised in Mexico but has never played in the North American league.
Miguel Herrera's men will host Cruz Azul at the Quintana Roo in Cancún. Both teams have attractive offensive styles that can put up big numbers in any given game.
Atlante lost the first game of the season, a hard-luck drop against Santos Laguna that extended their woes stemming from the Apertura 2010 season.
Amione and Cardaccio, the two foreign midfielders are out for Atlante, while Martin Galvan, Hector Gutierrez and Alejandro Vela are out of service for last season's league leaders. Cruz Azul beat Estudiantes Tecos in their season debut.
After taking a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Atlas in the first week of the season, Tomás Boy's Morelia squad will be put to the test at home against Guadalajara, another team urgently in need of points.
Only Aldo Leao Ramirez will be out of action for Morelia. The match at the Estadio Morelos will feature an oddity: the potential for four Mexican strikers on the pitch - Miguel Sabah and Rafael Marquez on Morelia's side, while Omar Arellano and Alberto Medina for Chivas.
Guadalajara drew at Puebla, and both teams are eager for wins after last season's disappointing campaigns. The added dramatic element of the match concerns the coaching future of Tomas Boy and Chivas manager Jose Luis Real, who have been on the hot seat.
On Sunday, Pumas will take on Santos Laguna at the Estadio Universitario, as the university side will debut in front of its home crowd, one of the loudest in the country.
It will feature the first match in almost a decade without Sergio Bernal - not counting injury or suspension - at the goalkeeper position, as the veteran retired prior to the start of this season.
Meanwhile, Santos Laguna come off a win against Atlante and a good start to the season, and will now attempt to prolong their fantastic form and point to the Clausura postseason, as they've been in the last two final series.
This could be the swan song for Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez, who is being wooed by several European clubs.
Guadalajara and América, the two league giants, will search for their first win of the season after disappoint debut outings, and Santos Laguna may bid adieu to their biggest star and consequently put a hit out on their own title chances in the Clausura 2011, having made it to the past two without success.
In Guadalajara, Matchday 2 will kickoff with the defending champions taking on Estudiantes Tecos at the Tres de Marzo. Both teams are reeling off of hard losses that will most likely create the scenario for entertaining, offensive football as both clubs will attempt to go all out for the three points up for grabs.
Monterrey fielded a somewhat alternative lineup in their 2-0 defeat to San Luis at home last week. Estudiantes Tecos were thrashed 4-1 in their season debut against Cruz Azul. Jose Luis Sanchez Sola's first match as manager was spoiled by a fantastic offensive display by the Blues.
The visitors will be without manager Victor Manuel Vucetich and William Paredes due to suspension, while Luis Pérez will be out battling an injury. Rubens Sambueza, the Tecos striker - is also suspended.
A 1-0 win has the Jaguars off to a flying start in the league, and they'll get Jackson Martinez back to spearhead their attack in the home opener.
Contrast that to the visitors, who may be without two key starters in Adolfo Rosinei and Vicente Sánchez, banged up by injuries. Pavel Pardo, the América captain, will return to the middle of the club's lineup. América lost their season opener against Pachuca, as the Tuzos struck for two goals at the Estadio Azteca.
The match will feature two of the three teams that have qualified for the 2011 Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club tournament.
San Luis will host Puebla in its inaugural home match for 2011, as the Gladiators come off a win against defending champions Monterrey in Week 1 of the competition.
Puebla on the other hand were held to a draw against Guadalajara as they opened the season at home in the Estadio Cuauhtémoc last week. The game will feature 21 of the two 22 regular starters for both teams. Only Melvin Brown is ruled out due to injury.
The visitors will rely on Félix Borja, the lanky striker to help them generate offense against the solid San Luis defense. The Gladiators will counter with youngster Othoniel Arce at the front of their attack.
Monterrey will play host to Tigres' home debut of the Clausura 2011, as Ricardo Ferretti's men take on Necaxa in a match that will feature two winless teams.
The Tigers failed to impress in Querétaro, falling behind 2-0 to the Gallos Blancos and then relying totally on their captain Lucas Lobos to get back into the game.
Necaxa were also unimpressive in their loss during Matchday 1. They will be without Jesus Palacios and Paulo Cesar Chavez due to suspension. Tigres could be without playmaker Damian Alvarez, who is nursing an injury.
Pachuca and Toluca will face each other at the Estadio Hidalgo in a match that pairs two of the most successful teams in the Mexican league in the past decade.
After Pachuca's 2-0 victory against América at the Estadio Azteca, the Tuzos will come home and face new-look Toluca, led by manager Sergio Lugo.
The Diablos Rojos extended their winless streak dating back to the Apertura 2010 and will try to get their season going as soon as possible to avoid a repeat of last season's failure to reach the postseason.
At the Estadio Jalisco, Atlas will take Querétaro on in a match that pits two of the teams that will battle it out this season to ensure they are not relegated to the second tier of Mexican football.
Atlas are the league leaders by way of a 5-0 drubbing of Morelia in the first game of the season, a match that was marred by the lack of fans in the seats due to the veto on the stadium for that particular match.
Querétaro had a golden opportunity to cement a flying start to the Clausura 2011 campaign against Tigres, but ended up drawing against Ferretti's men thanks to a fantastic performance by Lucas Lobos.
Carlo Costly, Atlas' Honduran striker, will most likely make his debut for the Mexican club in the second game of the season. Costly was raised in Mexico but has never played in the North American league.
Miguel Herrera's men will host Cruz Azul at the Quintana Roo in Cancún. Both teams have attractive offensive styles that can put up big numbers in any given game.
Atlante lost the first game of the season, a hard-luck drop against Santos Laguna that extended their woes stemming from the Apertura 2010 season.
Amione and Cardaccio, the two foreign midfielders are out for Atlante, while Martin Galvan, Hector Gutierrez and Alejandro Vela are out of service for last season's league leaders. Cruz Azul beat Estudiantes Tecos in their season debut.
After taking a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Atlas in the first week of the season, Tomás Boy's Morelia squad will be put to the test at home against Guadalajara, another team urgently in need of points.
Only Aldo Leao Ramirez will be out of action for Morelia. The match at the Estadio Morelos will feature an oddity: the potential for four Mexican strikers on the pitch - Miguel Sabah and Rafael Marquez on Morelia's side, while Omar Arellano and Alberto Medina for Chivas.
Guadalajara drew at Puebla, and both teams are eager for wins after last season's disappointing campaigns. The added dramatic element of the match concerns the coaching future of Tomas Boy and Chivas manager Jose Luis Real, who have been on the hot seat.
On Sunday, Pumas will take on Santos Laguna at the Estadio Universitario, as the university side will debut in front of its home crowd, one of the loudest in the country.
It will feature the first match in almost a decade without Sergio Bernal - not counting injury or suspension - at the goalkeeper position, as the veteran retired prior to the start of this season.
Meanwhile, Santos Laguna come off a win against Atlante and a good start to the season, and will now attempt to prolong their fantastic form and point to the Clausura postseason, as they've been in the last two final series.
This could be the swan song for Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez, who is being wooed by several European clubs.
