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Mexican Primera Weekend Preview: Jornada 14
All eyes are turned to the most anticipated match of the season in the Mexican league: “El Súper Clásico.” Without a doubt the derby of all derbies, between Mexico’s most popular and successful clubs, Chivas de Guadalajara and Aguilas de América.
Oct 24, 2008 11:12:15 AM
Jornada 14 kicks-off on Saturday when Toluca visits Jaguares, and with San Luis hoping to continue their dominance when they receive crisis-stricken Monterrey. Also, Pachuca hope to halt Morelia’s impressive form and later that night Tecos and Atlante battle it out for the sub-leader spot. On Sunday, the honors are reserved for another edition of the México derby when Chivas visit America to close week 14 action.
Saturday, 25 October, 2008
(home teams listed first, all times local)
17:00 San Luis - Monterrey
17:00 Jaguares - Toluca
19:00 Pachuca - Morelia
19:00 Tigres - Necaxa
20:45 Atlas - Santos
21:00 Atlante - Tecos
Sunday, 26 October, 2008
12:00 Puebla - Cruz Azul
12:00 Pumas - Indios
17:00 América - Chivas
Jaguares - Toluca
The week kicks-off between Group 3 rivals, when the “Diablos Rojos” travel South to Chiapas to face Jaguares.
Jaguares head coach Francisco Avilán los his undefeated streak last week against Santos, but the team has demonstrated revived spirits and good performances from key players.
On the other hand, Toluca earned a dominant 3-0 victory over Pachuca last week and they appear to have recovered and forgotten their bad results at the start of the campaign.
Toluca will try and increase their distance over Jaguares, while a victory for the Chiapas side will see them escalate positions and be level with the “Diablos.”
In Group 3, Toluca is in the third spot with 17 points and Jaguares is in the fifth spot with 14.
San Luis - Monterrey
Two sides living similar and different moments. Both teams suffered goleadas in the previous jornada, but they live different realities. San Luis continues to be the superlider, while Monterrey is submerged in a serious crisis.
San Luis suffered a disastrous 5-2 away defeat to Tecos, but to the players the defeat allowed them to realize that despite being leaders they have some things to work out.
The “Rayados” were thrashed 4-1 at home against city rivals Tigres, in the Nuevo León derby. Monterrey have six weeks without a victory and head to this match with various suspensions, including coach Ricardo La Volpe.
The “Gladiadores” are at the top of Group 3 and the general table with 24 points, while Monterrey is in the fourth spot of Group 1 with 13 units.
Pachuca - Morelia
In something unusual in the Mexican league, Pachuca will host Morelia at the estadio Azul in México city, due to the use of their home stadium in Hidalgo for another event.
The “Tuzos” come from a defeat against Toluca, in which they displayed their worst performance in many seasons. Heading into the last weeks of the torneo, Pachuca must demonstrate an improvement at 'home' to have any serious playoff aspirations.
After their commanding victory against Cruz Azul at the estadio Azul last weekend, Morelia is in an upswing and with their good footballistic form is lining up as a serious contender for the title if they qualify for the playoffs.
Pachuca is in the third spot of Group 1 with 15 points, while Morelia is in the second spot of Group 2 with 20 points.
Tigres - Necaxa
The Tigres are in an emotional high after categorically taking the 87th edition of the “Clásico Norteño,” and this jornada they host last place Necaxa.
Last jornada, Tigres took home the three points and city pride from Monterrey’s stadium with an imposing 4-1 victory over “Rayados.” Their motivation is through the roof, not only because of the goleada in the derby, but because of their recent football exhibition and being in a good position in the general table and in Group 3.
In the past week, Necaxa underwent an organizational change as well as a home defeat against Atlas. At the bottom of the table and with few signs of reaction, they are pretty much out of contention and are thinking on next season. The last victory for the “Rayos” was in the third week of the present campaign against Indios.
Tigres is in the second spot of Group 3 and third place in the general table with 21 points. Necaxa is at the bottom of the general table and the first group with only 9 units.
Atlas - Santos
In a battle of two dynamic teams and former Atlas players turned coaches, the “Zorros” receive champion Santos at the Jalisco.
After a negative three week run, the “Rojinegros” returned to victory over Necaxa last jornada. With Darío Franco at the helm, they have returned to playing with good ball control and based on individualities and youth. The good news for Atlas is the return of forward Daniel Achucarro, after a six-month injury layoff from a torn ACL.
The champions are fresh off two straight home victories, against Jaguares in the jornada 13 and in the CONCACAF Liga de Campeones against Tauro FC. They have maintained an irregularity this season, but their equilibrated playing style and their experimented players have them in a position to qualify to the liguilla.
Atlas are in the fourth spot of Group 3 with 15 points, while Santos is in the second spot of the first group with 19 points.
Atlante - Tecos
Aside from the national derby, this match promises to be one of the most entertaining encounters of the week. Not only for the good form of both sides, but because Tecos coach Miguel Herrera faces his former team.
Atlante suffered an away defeat against Chivas last week, but in midweek action they obtained their qualification to the quarterfinals in the CONCACAF Liga de Campeones. With their organized offense and defense, the “Potros” aim for the league’s top spot at home where they are undefeated this season.
Miguel Herrera’s side is fresh off a 5-2 thrashing of superlider San Luis, demonstrating a dangerous and effective attack which catapulted them to the top spot of the “Group of Death.” Faithful to the attacking ideology of their coach, Tecos will try to attack and bombard the Atlante goal knowing that a victory will see them take over the second spot in the general table.
The “Potros” are Group 1 leaders and second in the general table with 23 points, in turn, the “Tecolotes” are in the first spot of Group 2 and fourth overall with 21 points.
Pumas - Indios
In the start to Sunday action, Indios pay their first visit ever to Ciudad Universitaria to face Pumas.
In the jornada 13, both sides played to scoreless draws, pumas against puebla and Indios against América.
Pumas earned a soggy victory midweek at Houston, but they have suffered three defeats in the last four league matches and are in urgent need of a victory because they are losing ground in the “Group of Death” and may end up eliminated.
The bordertown side will benefit from some motivation from their draw against América, after they gave a good match and demonstrated positive things. Still, Indios are last in the relegation percentage table and are in urgent need of a victory after two winless weeks.
Pumas are in the fourth spot of Group 2 with 18 points, while Indios are in the fifth spot of the first group with 12 units.
Puebla - Cruz Azul
The “Camoteros” will want to take advantage of their second consecutive home match when they receive the “Máquina” of Cruz Azul.
Last week, puebla drew blank against Pumas at home. After five matches, coach Mario Carrillo cannot find the winning formula and has experienced internal problems that have made Puebla’s battle for permanence even more difficult.
Cruz Azul was shaken by Morelia last jornada, but they recovered with a victory against DC United midweek in CONCACAF. The “Cementeros” have struggled at the offensive end in the past weeks, but the “Camoteros” troubles and midweek victory should provide some confidence to take the three points this weekend.
Puebla is last place in the first group with 11 units, in turn, the “Cementeros” are in the third spot of the second group with 19 points.
América - Chivas
Week 14 action comes to a close with the 202nd edition of “el Súper Clásico” between Mexico’s most popular and successful clubs, Chivas de Guadalajara and Aguilas de América.
This “Clásico de Clásicos” is also characterized by the saying that it is a clash between the team with the best Mexican players, Chivas, and the team with the best foreigners, América.
On this occasion, América will host their bitter rival Chivas in the sacred field of the estadio Azteca on Sunday afternoon where the Guadalajara side has not been victorious since 2003. In the torneo Clausura 2008, Chivas defeated América 3-2.
Independent of the moment each side is going through in the season, these matches are always attractive due to the rivalry that exists on the field and in administration, because more than three points are at stake.
“Aguilas” played to an entertaining scoreless draw away at Indios last week, where they demonstrated an improved defensive order, dominance, and that goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is always there to save the day. América has not lost in the last four matches, as a result of a victory and three draws and only six out of 12 available points.
The “Rebaño Sagrado” head into this match with a slight advantage over their rivals in the table, as well as an unbeaten streak of five weeks. Last week they defeated Atlante at home by the minimal difference and earned another morale boosting victory in Argentina against River Plate midweek in the Copa Sudamericana. Still, they head into this important match with a heavy strain from midweek action and travel, which may affect their performance even if they count with one of the youngest squads.
This torneo the derby takes on a greater importance. Aside from playing their pride in the derby of all derbies, they fight amongst themselves the possibilities of qualifying for playoffs.
Both América and Chivas are in the “Group of Death” in less than favorable positions, but not completely out of post-season participation. Chivas are in the fifth spot with 18 points, but only three points behind group leader Tecos. On the other hand, América is in the last spot with 15 points and only three behind their arch-rivals.
While Mexico’s most successful clubs are unexpectedly at the bottom of Group 2 and mid-table, a derby victory can still propel them into playoff contention with four weeks remaining in regular season. However, a defeat in “el Súper Clásico” will not only sting pride but in the “Aguilas” case will leave them practically eliminated from the current campaign.
César García covers México for Goal.com.
Contact him with any questions or comments at: cesar.garcia@goal.com.
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