Mid-week action in Mexico brings us closer to the postseason with several important fixtures
Chivas will look to build on its strong present by taking Toluca on at the Nemesio Diez this Wednesday, while other interesting matches such as the Necaxa vs. Estudiantes Tecos fixture in Aguascalientes and the Gallos Blancos vs. Atlante game will go a long way in defining who gets to stay and who gets to go to the second division of Mexican football.
This slate of games will see just sixteen teams instead of the usual 18, as America and San Luis already saw their fixture completed on February 2nd as part of a deal the two teams struck to protect their sides going forward in the Copa Santander Libertadores of which both are current competitors.
The first mission for the Puebla side in Torreón will be to obtain points by any means necessary. Secondly, if possible, their task will be to break an eleven-year drought at the Estadio Corona. Puebla's last win in the city was in the 20th century.
Both teams are virtually out of the playoff race, as the Santos are 15th with 14 points, same amount for Puebla, who despite the parity are one spot below Diego Cocca's side, due to goal difference.
Santos Laguna will be without many key players for the match, as goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez is out for the season due to a home accident, Darwin Quintero is suspended, José Antonio Olvera and Christian Benítez are doubtful due to their various bumps and bruises, and Fernando Arce remains out for the rest of the Clausura 2011 campaign.
Puebla report a full squad for the match at hand. Santos Laguna has won the last two matches between these two sides, the last of which was a 1-0 win for Santos at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla last October.
Not obtaining three points at home tonight for the Hidrorrayos could spell doom for the Sergio Bueno side as the deadly mathematics associated with the relegation race in Mexico could conspire against them to make their expiration date in the first division a certainty.
Bueno's team has 12 points on the season and are 17th in the league field of 18, their relegation percentage however is that of 0.93 points per game, which has them well below any other team.
Since replacing Eduardo Acevedo, Estudiantes Tecos manager José Luis Sánchez Solá has been a rollercoaster ride of emotion with the Guadalajara university side, and with 15 points within a weak group, still dreams of steering his side into the playoffs, as they have built a small undefeated streak over the past three weeks.
They will be without Diego Jimenez due to suspension, Jorge Zamogilny and Christian Martinez will also be MIA due to various injuries - filling in for starting goalkeeper Martinez will be Juan Carlos Garcia who has already done a noteworthy job for the club in the past.
Guadalajara will venture into "El Infierno" when they step onto the pitch at the Nemesio Diez stadium, in search of another victory that would lift their momentum and strengthen their chances of making a deep playoff run.
The Chivas are exceptionally lifted after beating bitter rivals América 3-0 at the Estadio Omnilife last Sunday evening, in a match that far exceeded Guadalajara's wildest dreams and América's deadliest nightmares.
Striker Erick Torres will look to keep the Chicharito comparisons rolling against a defense that hit a rough patch in recent matches but is still stacked with important personnel that includes Diego Novaretti and Martin Romagnoli.
Meanwhile, a Toluca win would creep the Diablos closer to the playoffs, as they seem to have lifted themselves from the rut that had them shoved out of the Concacaf Champions League and nearly cost manager Serio Lugo his job.
Toluca have nott been able to beat Chivas since 2009, the last time the team traveled to the Nemesio Diez in search of a victory. That result was a 4-3 red win.
Querétaro would like to assure their spot in the first division next season by beating Atlante - a task made doubly difficult by the fact that the Potros are contemplating a playoff berth should their good form keep going.
The Gallos Blancos have 15 points in 13 matches, and they will be without Mexican-American Isaac Acuña and Hector Altamirano, both out due to injuries.
Atlante looks to keep a relatively good season going and push towards La Liguilla, as they share leadership of Group 2 with América. A draw will put them over the hump for now.
Francisco Fonseca and Christian Bermudez arise as the top players for Atlante, under the tutelage of Miguel Herrera, who will be without Luis Angel Landin due to injury. Jeronimo Amione is doubtful.
Atlante has won three of the last five head-to-head matches against Gallos Blancos, who only boast two 0-0 draws against the blaugranas in the past three years.
A rematch of the Concacaf Champions League semifinal that left Cruz Azul out of the running for yet another title last week will be reedited at the Estadio Azul on Wednesday evening when Monterrey rolls into town for a showdown.
A 1-1 draw left the blues out of the competition as they had already endured a 2-1 loss at Monterrey in the first leg. A controversial penalty and a tough miss just inches away from goal are the wounds still fresh in the Celestes' memory, and Enrique Meza's side will be keen to get back on the horse and break Monterrey's spell over them.
Cruz Azul have let the loss affect them psychologically, as a weekend loss at home to Morelia. Monterrey have gotten the better out of Cruz Azul in recent matches, only losing 4-2 to them last October in a meaningless regular season game, as Monterrey were already assured passage into the quarterfinals of the postseason.
They will be without Chilean striker Humberto Suazo, who has fallen back in his recuperation due to the injury he sustained against UANL Tigres in the Clasico Regiomontano.
Finally, Tigres hosts Pachuca in a match that has one team certain to go through facing another one already gathering resources to take on the next tournament with honor and a chance to win.
The arrival of Efrain Flores to the Pachuca helm has seen a slight change in fortunes. His debut saw a 0-4 shellacking at the hands of Atlante, but after that he managed a 0-0 draw at Pumas and two straight wins over Morelia and Jaguares.
Meanwhile, Tigres has won just one of its last five matches, slowing a nice momentum that had been built up after a strong first half. After beating Atlante on April 2, Pumas roughed the Tigres up at Ciudad Universitaria by a score of 2-0.
Despite just seven points separating them, Tigres is third overall while Pachuca is twelfth with 16 points.
Pumas strolls into the Estadio Jalisco with 28 points in their pocket and postseason passage almost assured, whilst Atlas are eleventh overall with 16 points and in serious danger of missing the liguilla after being early league leaders.
Atlas were whitewashed last week by Atlante in Cancun and have not won a single game in their last five matches. Pumas have won three of five, with their undefeated streak finally vanquished by Jaguares on April 2nd.
In recent meetings, Pumas have been dominant over Atlas, allowing one goal over three matches, beating the Guadalajara side twice in three occasions. Atlas boast a pair of wins over Pumas in 2009, the latest one coming on July 25 of that year.
Atlas will look to bring its world-famous youth system to scene tonight, as they will debut a young midfielder by the name of Mendoza, while Pumas will rely on its strong youth squad with players like Javier Cortes and Carlos Orrantia.
This slate of games will see just sixteen teams instead of the usual 18, as America and San Luis already saw their fixture completed on February 2nd as part of a deal the two teams struck to protect their sides going forward in the Copa Santander Libertadores of which both are current competitors.
The first mission for the Puebla side in Torreón will be to obtain points by any means necessary. Secondly, if possible, their task will be to break an eleven-year drought at the Estadio Corona. Puebla's last win in the city was in the 20th century.
Both teams are virtually out of the playoff race, as the Santos are 15th with 14 points, same amount for Puebla, who despite the parity are one spot below Diego Cocca's side, due to goal difference.
Santos Laguna will be without many key players for the match, as goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez is out for the season due to a home accident, Darwin Quintero is suspended, José Antonio Olvera and Christian Benítez are doubtful due to their various bumps and bruises, and Fernando Arce remains out for the rest of the Clausura 2011 campaign.
Puebla report a full squad for the match at hand. Santos Laguna has won the last two matches between these two sides, the last of which was a 1-0 win for Santos at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla last October.
Not obtaining three points at home tonight for the Hidrorrayos could spell doom for the Sergio Bueno side as the deadly mathematics associated with the relegation race in Mexico could conspire against them to make their expiration date in the first division a certainty.
Bueno's team has 12 points on the season and are 17th in the league field of 18, their relegation percentage however is that of 0.93 points per game, which has them well below any other team.
Since replacing Eduardo Acevedo, Estudiantes Tecos manager José Luis Sánchez Solá has been a rollercoaster ride of emotion with the Guadalajara university side, and with 15 points within a weak group, still dreams of steering his side into the playoffs, as they have built a small undefeated streak over the past three weeks.
They will be without Diego Jimenez due to suspension, Jorge Zamogilny and Christian Martinez will also be MIA due to various injuries - filling in for starting goalkeeper Martinez will be Juan Carlos Garcia who has already done a noteworthy job for the club in the past.
Guadalajara will venture into "El Infierno" when they step onto the pitch at the Nemesio Diez stadium, in search of another victory that would lift their momentum and strengthen their chances of making a deep playoff run.
The Chivas are exceptionally lifted after beating bitter rivals América 3-0 at the Estadio Omnilife last Sunday evening, in a match that far exceeded Guadalajara's wildest dreams and América's deadliest nightmares.
Striker Erick Torres will look to keep the Chicharito comparisons rolling against a defense that hit a rough patch in recent matches but is still stacked with important personnel that includes Diego Novaretti and Martin Romagnoli.
Meanwhile, a Toluca win would creep the Diablos closer to the playoffs, as they seem to have lifted themselves from the rut that had them shoved out of the Concacaf Champions League and nearly cost manager Serio Lugo his job.
Toluca have nott been able to beat Chivas since 2009, the last time the team traveled to the Nemesio Diez in search of a victory. That result was a 4-3 red win.
Querétaro would like to assure their spot in the first division next season by beating Atlante - a task made doubly difficult by the fact that the Potros are contemplating a playoff berth should their good form keep going.
The Gallos Blancos have 15 points in 13 matches, and they will be without Mexican-American Isaac Acuña and Hector Altamirano, both out due to injuries.
Atlante looks to keep a relatively good season going and push towards La Liguilla, as they share leadership of Group 2 with América. A draw will put them over the hump for now.
Francisco Fonseca and Christian Bermudez arise as the top players for Atlante, under the tutelage of Miguel Herrera, who will be without Luis Angel Landin due to injury. Jeronimo Amione is doubtful.
Atlante has won three of the last five head-to-head matches against Gallos Blancos, who only boast two 0-0 draws against the blaugranas in the past three years.
A rematch of the Concacaf Champions League semifinal that left Cruz Azul out of the running for yet another title last week will be reedited at the Estadio Azul on Wednesday evening when Monterrey rolls into town for a showdown.
A 1-1 draw left the blues out of the competition as they had already endured a 2-1 loss at Monterrey in the first leg. A controversial penalty and a tough miss just inches away from goal are the wounds still fresh in the Celestes' memory, and Enrique Meza's side will be keen to get back on the horse and break Monterrey's spell over them.
Cruz Azul have let the loss affect them psychologically, as a weekend loss at home to Morelia. Monterrey have gotten the better out of Cruz Azul in recent matches, only losing 4-2 to them last October in a meaningless regular season game, as Monterrey were already assured passage into the quarterfinals of the postseason.
They will be without Chilean striker Humberto Suazo, who has fallen back in his recuperation due to the injury he sustained against UANL Tigres in the Clasico Regiomontano.
Finally, Tigres hosts Pachuca in a match that has one team certain to go through facing another one already gathering resources to take on the next tournament with honor and a chance to win.
The arrival of Efrain Flores to the Pachuca helm has seen a slight change in fortunes. His debut saw a 0-4 shellacking at the hands of Atlante, but after that he managed a 0-0 draw at Pumas and two straight wins over Morelia and Jaguares.
Meanwhile, Tigres has won just one of its last five matches, slowing a nice momentum that had been built up after a strong first half. After beating Atlante on April 2, Pumas roughed the Tigres up at Ciudad Universitaria by a score of 2-0.
Despite just seven points separating them, Tigres is third overall while Pachuca is twelfth with 16 points.
Pumas strolls into the Estadio Jalisco with 28 points in their pocket and postseason passage almost assured, whilst Atlas are eleventh overall with 16 points and in serious danger of missing the liguilla after being early league leaders.
Atlas were whitewashed last week by Atlante in Cancun and have not won a single game in their last five matches. Pumas have won three of five, with their undefeated streak finally vanquished by Jaguares on April 2nd.
In recent meetings, Pumas have been dominant over Atlas, allowing one goal over three matches, beating the Guadalajara side twice in three occasions. Atlas boast a pair of wins over Pumas in 2009, the latest one coming on July 25 of that year.
Atlas will look to bring its world-famous youth system to scene tonight, as they will debut a young midfielder by the name of Mendoza, while Pumas will rely on its strong youth squad with players like Javier Cortes and Carlos Orrantia.
