Week 16 pushes us just one away from the finish line, as eight teams scurry to join the Mexican league playoffs.
Week 16 of the Mexican Clausura brings us a full slate of excellent matches in the Mexican League: Pachuca are still alive and well in the playoff race and might use the opportunity at La Corregidora to gain ground on some of the teams in their group that have built a nice lead over them as they face Querétaro.
Meanwhile, Chivas and Cruz Azul will look to get three points from each other and push towards La Liguilla, where they might hook up once more in the quarterfinals. Atlas need to win and at least get a draw from their Matchday 17 game in order to have hopes of making the postseason. América and Altnate are locked in a race for leadership of Group 2.
Necaxa sealed their fate last weekend at Atlante upon drawing 1-1 with the Potros in Cancun. They will play 2011-12 and possibly beyond in the Mexican Second Division, ending the drama of relegation a tad early - and now play out their schedule.
The match is also a formality for Pumas, who can reach 35 points and thus, first place overall in the league table for the rest of the Clausura 2011 campaign.
Due to the non-relevance that this match promises, we might see a large amount of starters on the bench for either squad.
The question now for Pumas becomes - who will they face in the first round of the playoffs? If the season ended today, a huge rivalry would take place front and center for the quarterfinals, as América would be their direct rivals.
In Queretaro, the Gallos Blancos are toasting early as they get to remain in the maximum circuit of teams for next season - but will have to get to work early in order to avoid falling behind for next season's relegation race.
Pachuca are still alive and well in the playoff race and might use the opportunity at La Corregidora to gain ground on some of the teams in their group that have built a nice lead over them.
Carlos Bueno, Queretaro striker, will be the man on point for the home team, whereas Pachuca will most likely revert to its 4-3-3 line and feature Gomez, Benitez and Arizala up front.
Santos Laguna and San Luis try to quash the other's slim playoff hopes this Saturday in Torreon as both teams are mathematically alive but are definitely on the outside looking in as far as a spot is concerned.
Christian Benitez will be back in action for Santos Laguna after missing several matches due to injury. Daniel Ludueña has found his form and is now expected to stay with the club after transfer rumors had him joining América over the summer.
San Luis look to rebound after being eliminated from the Copa Santander Libertadores 2011 Group Stage a week ago after a 2-0 loss to Libertad in Paraguay knocked them out of the competition. The Gladiators come back to face an equally tough opponent with oodles of talent that is slowly coming together under Diego Cocca.
With qualification into the playoffs still not assured, Monterrey will host Puebla at the Tecnologico in order to cement their playoff status this Saturday afternoon.
Victor Manuel Vucetich's side have struggled with inconsistency and injuries throughout the entirety of the season, but they've still managed to keep themselves afloat amidst a burgeoning scene of contenders ready to wrestle the crown away from the blue and whites.
Puebla, on the other hand, are all but eliminated from the next round and will want to close out the tournament with dignity, attempting to grab a point away from home in order to help them with the 2011-12 relegation race that will have them as prime candidates to go down into the second division.
Hector Hugo Eugui's side have stabilized since the Uruguay man took over, but a tough schedule and limited talent have kept them away from being a threat to make the playoffs.
Guadalajara's Estadio Jalisco will set the scene for Atlas and Jaguares, as the home side look to bag three points and push forward towards la Liguilla.
The postseason beckons for the red and blacks, and after a dream start in which they obtained nine points out of their first three matches, they've only been able to get eleven out of the next twelve games.
Jaguares occupy the very last slot in the league table, but are still alive and well in the Copa Santander Libertadores 2011, despite taking 15 players into Bolivia to match up against Jorge Wilstermann, a match that ended 0-0 and gave Jaguares passage into the next round of the competition.
Atlas need to win and at least get a draw from their Matchday 17 game in order to have hopes of making the postseason.
Cruz Azul and Guadalajara face each other at the Estadio Azul in Mexico City, in a match sure to raise the eyebrows of whomever follows Mexican football. At fourth and fifth place respectively, this very well could be a preview of a postseason battle between the two sides.
Emanuel Villa and Christian Gimenez have picked up their game for the Blues after being part of a crushing loss that left them out of the CCL final a few weeks ago.
Guadalajara had been unbeaten for five matches before losing a tough 1-0 match due to a screamer by Felipe Baloy in the 93rd minute of their match against Santos Laguna last weekend at the Estadio Omnilife.
Meanwhile, Erick Torres, Guadalajara striker, has seen interest grow in his services as several outlets report PSV and Deportivo might be vying for his talent.
Toluca and Estudiantes Tecos desperately need a win in order to keep pushing towards a playoff spot in the Clausura 2011 campaign.
Sergio Lugo's men started off well enough but tailed off mid-season and find themselves in a four-way battle with other teams in their group who are all pushing for a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, Estudiantes Tecos manager Jose Luis Sanchez Sola looks to continue to right the ship ater it took him several games to get his team on point.
The team will look to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, when they were managed by Miguel Herrera. Furthermore, the Estudiantes club have not made a final since 2005, when they were led by Daniel Guzmán.
In Morelia, Tomas Boy will face the team he spent years defending as a player - UANL Tigres.
Morelia and UANL Tigres are sixth and third, respectively - another match that might hint at a potential quarterfinal playoff series between the two sides this weekend at the Estadio Morelos.
The home side will look to cement its spot in the postseason by beating UANL Tigres, although a combination of results might allow them to do so by just obtaining a draw against the felines, coached by Ricardo Ferretti.
Tigres will look to keep going within the league and not lose rhythm before entering the playoffs, as the team is looking to end its 29 year trophy drought.
Finally, América and Atlante hookup for leadership of Group 2 on Sunday as both teams are within striking range of the playoffs and look to leapfrog each other en route to the Liguilla mini-tournament.
After a 3-1 win at Estudiantes Tecos last weekend, América travel back home to take on the hot-and-cold Atlante Potros led by manager Miguel Herrera.
América have been quite volatile themselves during the Clausura 2011, as they've won seven matches, drawn one and lost seven as well. Atlante will need to better their performance out of home, as they've been very well unbeatable at the Quintana Roo but vulnerable almost anywhere else.
Meanwhile, Chivas and Cruz Azul will look to get three points from each other and push towards La Liguilla, where they might hook up once more in the quarterfinals. Atlas need to win and at least get a draw from their Matchday 17 game in order to have hopes of making the postseason. América and Altnate are locked in a race for leadership of Group 2.
Necaxa sealed their fate last weekend at Atlante upon drawing 1-1 with the Potros in Cancun. They will play 2011-12 and possibly beyond in the Mexican Second Division, ending the drama of relegation a tad early - and now play out their schedule.
The match is also a formality for Pumas, who can reach 35 points and thus, first place overall in the league table for the rest of the Clausura 2011 campaign.
Due to the non-relevance that this match promises, we might see a large amount of starters on the bench for either squad.
The question now for Pumas becomes - who will they face in the first round of the playoffs? If the season ended today, a huge rivalry would take place front and center for the quarterfinals, as América would be their direct rivals.
In Queretaro, the Gallos Blancos are toasting early as they get to remain in the maximum circuit of teams for next season - but will have to get to work early in order to avoid falling behind for next season's relegation race.
Pachuca are still alive and well in the playoff race and might use the opportunity at La Corregidora to gain ground on some of the teams in their group that have built a nice lead over them.
Carlos Bueno, Queretaro striker, will be the man on point for the home team, whereas Pachuca will most likely revert to its 4-3-3 line and feature Gomez, Benitez and Arizala up front.
Santos Laguna and San Luis try to quash the other's slim playoff hopes this Saturday in Torreon as both teams are mathematically alive but are definitely on the outside looking in as far as a spot is concerned.
Christian Benitez will be back in action for Santos Laguna after missing several matches due to injury. Daniel Ludueña has found his form and is now expected to stay with the club after transfer rumors had him joining América over the summer.
San Luis look to rebound after being eliminated from the Copa Santander Libertadores 2011 Group Stage a week ago after a 2-0 loss to Libertad in Paraguay knocked them out of the competition. The Gladiators come back to face an equally tough opponent with oodles of talent that is slowly coming together under Diego Cocca.
With qualification into the playoffs still not assured, Monterrey will host Puebla at the Tecnologico in order to cement their playoff status this Saturday afternoon.
Victor Manuel Vucetich's side have struggled with inconsistency and injuries throughout the entirety of the season, but they've still managed to keep themselves afloat amidst a burgeoning scene of contenders ready to wrestle the crown away from the blue and whites.
Puebla, on the other hand, are all but eliminated from the next round and will want to close out the tournament with dignity, attempting to grab a point away from home in order to help them with the 2011-12 relegation race that will have them as prime candidates to go down into the second division.
Hector Hugo Eugui's side have stabilized since the Uruguay man took over, but a tough schedule and limited talent have kept them away from being a threat to make the playoffs.
Guadalajara's Estadio Jalisco will set the scene for Atlas and Jaguares, as the home side look to bag three points and push forward towards la Liguilla.
The postseason beckons for the red and blacks, and after a dream start in which they obtained nine points out of their first three matches, they've only been able to get eleven out of the next twelve games.
Jaguares occupy the very last slot in the league table, but are still alive and well in the Copa Santander Libertadores 2011, despite taking 15 players into Bolivia to match up against Jorge Wilstermann, a match that ended 0-0 and gave Jaguares passage into the next round of the competition.
Atlas need to win and at least get a draw from their Matchday 17 game in order to have hopes of making the postseason.
Cruz Azul and Guadalajara face each other at the Estadio Azul in Mexico City, in a match sure to raise the eyebrows of whomever follows Mexican football. At fourth and fifth place respectively, this very well could be a preview of a postseason battle between the two sides.
Emanuel Villa and Christian Gimenez have picked up their game for the Blues after being part of a crushing loss that left them out of the CCL final a few weeks ago.
Guadalajara had been unbeaten for five matches before losing a tough 1-0 match due to a screamer by Felipe Baloy in the 93rd minute of their match against Santos Laguna last weekend at the Estadio Omnilife.
Meanwhile, Erick Torres, Guadalajara striker, has seen interest grow in his services as several outlets report PSV and Deportivo might be vying for his talent.
Toluca and Estudiantes Tecos desperately need a win in order to keep pushing towards a playoff spot in the Clausura 2011 campaign.
Sergio Lugo's men started off well enough but tailed off mid-season and find themselves in a four-way battle with other teams in their group who are all pushing for a playoff berth.
Meanwhile, Estudiantes Tecos manager Jose Luis Sanchez Sola looks to continue to right the ship ater it took him several games to get his team on point.
The team will look to make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, when they were managed by Miguel Herrera. Furthermore, the Estudiantes club have not made a final since 2005, when they were led by Daniel Guzmán.
In Morelia, Tomas Boy will face the team he spent years defending as a player - UANL Tigres.
Morelia and UANL Tigres are sixth and third, respectively - another match that might hint at a potential quarterfinal playoff series between the two sides this weekend at the Estadio Morelos.
The home side will look to cement its spot in the postseason by beating UANL Tigres, although a combination of results might allow them to do so by just obtaining a draw against the felines, coached by Ricardo Ferretti.
Tigres will look to keep going within the league and not lose rhythm before entering the playoffs, as the team is looking to end its 29 year trophy drought.
Finally, América and Atlante hookup for leadership of Group 2 on Sunday as both teams are within striking range of the playoffs and look to leapfrog each other en route to the Liguilla mini-tournament.
After a 3-1 win at Estudiantes Tecos last weekend, América travel back home to take on the hot-and-cold Atlante Potros led by manager Miguel Herrera.
América have been quite volatile themselves during the Clausura 2011, as they've won seven matches, drawn one and lost seven as well. Atlante will need to better their performance out of home, as they've been very well unbeatable at the Quintana Roo but vulnerable almost anywhere else.
