Two recent league titleholders meet in Mexico City while one of the nation's biggest teams goes back to basics.
In Guadalajara, the weekend slate kicks off as winless Chivas try to notch their first three-pointer against the city's "little" team, Estudiantes Tecos. Saturday, first place Atlas take on an América team in full-blown crisis mode. Gallos Blancos and Necaxa will face off in a match that directly affects the relegation race and Tigres will host Toluca in a six-pointer.
Finally, Pumas and Monterrey will square off in Ciudad Universitaria in a rematch of last season's semifinal battle that saw the eventual champ Rayados through.
The utter lack of offense and crisis in positive results has forced Jose Luis Real to do something this reporter feared would never, ever happen: add a second striker to the starting lineup.
In a startling move, Real has placed Erick Torres into the starting mix with Omar Arellano. Young Torres scored his first professional goal last week, but it wasn't enough for Chivas as they picked up their third straight draw.
The red-and-whites have won just twice in the last 16 league matches over the last two seasons. Estudiantes Tecos have been a faithful reflection of their new coach, Jose Luis Sanchez, whose extreme personality has pushed the university squad to absolutes in their results: one victory and two losses is the current clip.
Suspendee Rubens Sambueza will return to the mix for Estudiantes, who will field their ideal 11 for the first time in this Clausura 2011.
A battle of teams searching for their first win since Week 1 takes place in the Chiapas jungle this Saturday, as Jaguares host Santos Laguna.
Bad news for the home squad, fresh off a Copa Libertadores win in Perú, 2-0 over Alianza Lima: star striker Jackson Martinez may miss the match after picking up a knock mid-week.
Will one absence for the home team overshadow three for the visitors? Ruben Omar Romano's team are missing suspended Fernando Arce and injured Oribe Peralta and Juan Pablo Rodriguez.
In their last meeting, Santos defeated Jaguares, as both teams met in the Apertura 2010 quarterfinals, which saw the green-and-whites go through thanks to a 2-1 aggregate.
Last call for Daniel Brailovsky to save his job as Necaxa boss.
In Queretaro, the two biggest candidates to lose category and fall into the second division will square off at the Corregidora. Queretaro's one point should be enough to have them at the lowest rung in the league standings, but Necaxa, with zero points to their name, occupy that less than graceful spot.
No excuses on the personnel side, as neither team will be sans starters for the Saturday night fight. Necaxa striker Sergio Blanco will visit the stadium he called home for the past seasons. After a fantastic spell in Queretaro, Blanco has yet to pierce the net in his current stint.
A loss could mean the fulfillment of an ultimatum made on Necaxa manager Daniel Brailovsky, who would be jobless should the Aguascalientes side lose.
The strangest Mexican derby will take place this weekend at the Huracan Stadium when Pachuca face Cruz Azul.
The Hidalgo derby is unique in the sense that one of two teams it features doesn't play in the area it is supposedly representing. Cruz Azul moved from Hidalgo to Mexico City to capitalize on a bigger following and more attractive stadiums.
Meanwhile, Pachuca have remained in the state and have nearly eclipsed their once proud rivals due to their great recent successes. Cruz Azul have not won a championship since 1997, while Pachuca dominated the 2000's with a plethora of league titles, Champions' Cup titles and even a Copa Sudamericana.
Hugo Droguett is out for Cruz Azul, so are Hector Gutierrez, Martin Galvan and Alejandro Vela, sibling of new WBA striker Carlos. Pachuca goes into the match unbeaten with one victory and two draws.
Home field advantage for Tigres? Don't tell that to Toluca, who have beaten the UANL squad in their stadium every time they've met at the Universitario Stadium since 2005.
Ricardo Ferretti's team is third overall by way of excellent results in the first three matches, while Sergio Lugo's men are fifth going into Week 4.
Hector Mancilla will see his old Toluca teammates for the first time since his winter departure sent him to Monterrey. The Chilean striker's void has been filled with the Reds by Ecuador international Jaime Ayovi.
Goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo is out while Damian Alvarez is doubtful for Tigres, who still have Mancilla, Danilinho and Lucas Lobos spearheading their attack.
Rounding out the Saturday slate is Miguel Herrera's Atlante, a highly entertaining team with a do-or-die penchant.
They've either been brilliant or failed in games this season while going all out. In front, they will have a Puebla team that is highly motivated after beating their old man in charge last weekend against Estudiantes Tecos.
Atlante's best form has been at home, where they defeated Cruz Azul in Week 2 with a great game from Christian Bermudez. They will be at the Quintana Roo this Saturday night against Puebla, who coincidentally have not won away from home since Week 3... of last season, the Apertura 2010 that saw them beat Estudiantes by 3-1.
Jorge Hernandez will be the only player out of the habitual 22 to miss the game, as he is suspended due to the red card picked up last weekend in the loss to Monterrey.
Quite a reversal of fortunes has befallen Atlas and América during the Clausura 2011. América, semifinalists last season under Manuel Lapuente, have fired their coach after losing two of the first three matches of the season.
Atlas know nothing of losing games in the Clausura, as they've won all three matches and sit alone atop the league table. Benjamin Galindo, Atlas skipper, is thus pushing the team from relegation and threatening to take them back to the playoffs for the first time in years.
New América boss Carlos Reinoso was a legend as a player and his first stint as coach brought the team a championship. Since saving Queretaro from relegation six months ago he has bounced around several board room jobs before landing his dream job. He will be without midfielder Rosinei for this match, while Atlas will be missing defender Nestor Vidrio.
In Morelia, the weekend slate of games will wrap up as Tomas Boy's men will host San Luis.
Morelia are fresh off their first win, a 3-0 thrashing of Queretaro last week, while San Luis are undefeated and have only allowed a single goal this season.
That goal was given up last week against Chivas, when Erick Torres smashed his volley into the back of the net before San Luis climbed back and pulled a draw out of their match at the Estadio Omnilife.
There are no injuries or suspensions affecting this match, and the game will feature two former teammates at the coaching position, as Tomas Boy and Ignacio Ambriz were both capped for El Tri on several occasions.
In last season's semifinals, Pumas and Monterrey squared off with Pumas hot off beating Cruz Azul and fancying themselves the tournament's Cinderella.
Cinderella went home early in the Apertura 2010 playoffs, as Monterrey took a 0-0 first leg back home and finished the felines off, 2-0 at the Estadio Tecnologico.
This season, Monterrey will try to beat UNAM at home for the first time since 2005, when they quieted the CU crowd with a 1-2 score. Prior to that, a growing rivalry had taken place as Pumas had defeated Monterrey in the 2004 league final.
Pumas' undefeated record will be put to the test against a Monterrey team who barely picked up their first points last weekend, after a home win against Atlante dragged them out of the cellar.
Finally, Pumas and Monterrey will square off in Ciudad Universitaria in a rematch of last season's semifinal battle that saw the eventual champ Rayados through.
The utter lack of offense and crisis in positive results has forced Jose Luis Real to do something this reporter feared would never, ever happen: add a second striker to the starting lineup.
In a startling move, Real has placed Erick Torres into the starting mix with Omar Arellano. Young Torres scored his first professional goal last week, but it wasn't enough for Chivas as they picked up their third straight draw.
The red-and-whites have won just twice in the last 16 league matches over the last two seasons. Estudiantes Tecos have been a faithful reflection of their new coach, Jose Luis Sanchez, whose extreme personality has pushed the university squad to absolutes in their results: one victory and two losses is the current clip.
Suspendee Rubens Sambueza will return to the mix for Estudiantes, who will field their ideal 11 for the first time in this Clausura 2011.
A battle of teams searching for their first win since Week 1 takes place in the Chiapas jungle this Saturday, as Jaguares host Santos Laguna.
Bad news for the home squad, fresh off a Copa Libertadores win in Perú, 2-0 over Alianza Lima: star striker Jackson Martinez may miss the match after picking up a knock mid-week.
Will one absence for the home team overshadow three for the visitors? Ruben Omar Romano's team are missing suspended Fernando Arce and injured Oribe Peralta and Juan Pablo Rodriguez.
In their last meeting, Santos defeated Jaguares, as both teams met in the Apertura 2010 quarterfinals, which saw the green-and-whites go through thanks to a 2-1 aggregate.
Last call for Daniel Brailovsky to save his job as Necaxa boss.
In Queretaro, the two biggest candidates to lose category and fall into the second division will square off at the Corregidora. Queretaro's one point should be enough to have them at the lowest rung in the league standings, but Necaxa, with zero points to their name, occupy that less than graceful spot.
No excuses on the personnel side, as neither team will be sans starters for the Saturday night fight. Necaxa striker Sergio Blanco will visit the stadium he called home for the past seasons. After a fantastic spell in Queretaro, Blanco has yet to pierce the net in his current stint.
A loss could mean the fulfillment of an ultimatum made on Necaxa manager Daniel Brailovsky, who would be jobless should the Aguascalientes side lose.
The strangest Mexican derby will take place this weekend at the Huracan Stadium when Pachuca face Cruz Azul.
The Hidalgo derby is unique in the sense that one of two teams it features doesn't play in the area it is supposedly representing. Cruz Azul moved from Hidalgo to Mexico City to capitalize on a bigger following and more attractive stadiums.
Meanwhile, Pachuca have remained in the state and have nearly eclipsed their once proud rivals due to their great recent successes. Cruz Azul have not won a championship since 1997, while Pachuca dominated the 2000's with a plethora of league titles, Champions' Cup titles and even a Copa Sudamericana.
Hugo Droguett is out for Cruz Azul, so are Hector Gutierrez, Martin Galvan and Alejandro Vela, sibling of new WBA striker Carlos. Pachuca goes into the match unbeaten with one victory and two draws.
Home field advantage for Tigres? Don't tell that to Toluca, who have beaten the UANL squad in their stadium every time they've met at the Universitario Stadium since 2005.
Ricardo Ferretti's team is third overall by way of excellent results in the first three matches, while Sergio Lugo's men are fifth going into Week 4.
Hector Mancilla will see his old Toluca teammates for the first time since his winter departure sent him to Monterrey. The Chilean striker's void has been filled with the Reds by Ecuador international Jaime Ayovi.
Goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo is out while Damian Alvarez is doubtful for Tigres, who still have Mancilla, Danilinho and Lucas Lobos spearheading their attack.
Rounding out the Saturday slate is Miguel Herrera's Atlante, a highly entertaining team with a do-or-die penchant.
They've either been brilliant or failed in games this season while going all out. In front, they will have a Puebla team that is highly motivated after beating their old man in charge last weekend against Estudiantes Tecos.
Atlante's best form has been at home, where they defeated Cruz Azul in Week 2 with a great game from Christian Bermudez. They will be at the Quintana Roo this Saturday night against Puebla, who coincidentally have not won away from home since Week 3... of last season, the Apertura 2010 that saw them beat Estudiantes by 3-1.
Jorge Hernandez will be the only player out of the habitual 22 to miss the game, as he is suspended due to the red card picked up last weekend in the loss to Monterrey.
Quite a reversal of fortunes has befallen Atlas and América during the Clausura 2011. América, semifinalists last season under Manuel Lapuente, have fired their coach after losing two of the first three matches of the season.
Atlas know nothing of losing games in the Clausura, as they've won all three matches and sit alone atop the league table. Benjamin Galindo, Atlas skipper, is thus pushing the team from relegation and threatening to take them back to the playoffs for the first time in years.
New América boss Carlos Reinoso was a legend as a player and his first stint as coach brought the team a championship. Since saving Queretaro from relegation six months ago he has bounced around several board room jobs before landing his dream job. He will be without midfielder Rosinei for this match, while Atlas will be missing defender Nestor Vidrio.
In Morelia, the weekend slate of games will wrap up as Tomas Boy's men will host San Luis.
Morelia are fresh off their first win, a 3-0 thrashing of Queretaro last week, while San Luis are undefeated and have only allowed a single goal this season.
That goal was given up last week against Chivas, when Erick Torres smashed his volley into the back of the net before San Luis climbed back and pulled a draw out of their match at the Estadio Omnilife.
There are no injuries or suspensions affecting this match, and the game will feature two former teammates at the coaching position, as Tomas Boy and Ignacio Ambriz were both capped for El Tri on several occasions.
In last season's semifinals, Pumas and Monterrey squared off with Pumas hot off beating Cruz Azul and fancying themselves the tournament's Cinderella.
Cinderella went home early in the Apertura 2010 playoffs, as Monterrey took a 0-0 first leg back home and finished the felines off, 2-0 at the Estadio Tecnologico.
This season, Monterrey will try to beat UNAM at home for the first time since 2005, when they quieted the CU crowd with a 1-2 score. Prior to that, a growing rivalry had taken place as Pumas had defeated Monterrey in the 2004 league final.
Pumas' undefeated record will be put to the test against a Monterrey team who barely picked up their first points last weekend, after a home win against Atlante dragged them out of the cellar.
