The first official match of the 2016-2017 Liga MX season will take place this Sunday, when Chivas fights Veracruz for a spot in next year's Copa Libertadores

With the 2016 Apertura Tournament just around the corner, the first really big game including Mexican teams will be played this weekend. One of the most popular and successful teams in Mexico will battle an up and coming side, with the winner earning the chance to dispute the 2017 Copa Libertadores edition.

Chivas and Veracruz will have a go against each other for the first time in this sort of competition, with "El Rebaño" labeled as the favorite to win the game. Nevertheless, Veracruz added some talented players to their roster, and with the offensive tactics of coach Pablo Marini, Los Tiburones could give Matías Almeyda's crew quite a headache.

Guadalajara won the Apertura 2015 Cup with an excruciating 1-0 victory against León, while Veracruz hardly broke a sweat to defeat Necaxa in the Clausura 2016 Cup game, which they won comfortably 4-1.

Team news

Guadalajara has kept fans talking about them since the Clausura 2016 tournament ended, since they announced the creation of Chivas TV, an online channel that will broadcast all of the team's games played at Omnilife Stadium. For the first time in the past two years, Guadalajra will not have to deal with relegation problems, giving Matías Almeyda a chance to work properly with a team that desperately needs more silverware.

The Jalisco-based crew had its fair share of moves during the offseason, adding midfielder Jose Juan Vazquez, Nestor Calderón and Marco Bueno, all of them with international experience with El Tri. Added to their already talented squad, Chivas will fight to play the South American competition once more, and erase that bad memory from their last performance in 2012, when they weren't able to make it past the Group Stage.

The team unveiled their new kit on Thursday, putting up quite a show for their fans.

On the other hand, Veracruz will be in for a fresh start, after having coach Carlos Reinoso sacked as soon as the Clausura 2016 ended. New coach Pablo Marini will have the task of making their fans a bit happier, since they missed the playoffs in the recently concluded tournament.

The team's main performers were tempted by top-caliber teams this summer, but the trio of Daniel Villalva, Gabriel Peñalba and Julio Furch remained loyal to the cause. Furthermore, the addition of Matías Cahais, Cristian Erbes and Peruvian goalie Pedro Gallese will add depth to the squad, making them one of the most balanced teams in the Mexican top flight.

Argentinean striker Julio Furch has scored 20 goals in three tournaments with Los Tiburones, becoming the team's most dangerous weapon up front.

Did you know?

  • Guadalajara will try to make it to its 8th Copa Libertadores ever.

  • Chivas is one of two Mexican teams to reach the competition's final match. They made it to the title game back in 2010, while Cruz Azul had reached the final in 2001.

  • Veracruz has never played a single Copa Libertadores match.

Where to watch Guadalajara vs Veracruz on TV or online?

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Match details, result and original broadcast info

Guadalajara 2 - 0 Veracruz

July 10, 2016 6:00pm

This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.

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