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Jornada 14 Preview: Start Of Busy Stretch
Jornada 14 and Jornada 15 will be played within days of each other as the next week could change the Apertura landscape tremendously.
Oct 30, 2009 9:01:54 AM
With the chance to gain or lose six points in a short amount of time, there could be massive changes in the Apertura landscape, particularly in Group 2. However, Atlante have made it a contest in another group and could have a say in the season before it's all said and done.
Game of the Week
Cruz Azul vs. Atlante, Saturday, 6 p.m. ET
A direct battle between two and three will take place between Cruz Azul and Atlante in one of the few games left before the regular run of the Apertura 2009. Atlante is behind Cruz Azul with only two points and a win could propel the team from Cancun into a position for a place in the Liguilla. The home team will be without Horacio Cervantes and long term injured player Alejandro Vela. Atlante will be missing Luis Gerardo Venegas. So far Atlante have scored as many goals as they have conceded(14). Cruz Azul have been one of the highest teams of the tournament with 24 goals. The duel between the two will be tight and have a strong influence on attendance to the Liguilla.
Prediction: Cruz Azul, 1-0.
OTHER GAMES
SATURDAY
San Luis vs. Monterrey, 6 p.m. ET
As it stands now San Luis are currently in the Liguilla as second place of group one. They’ll have the added benefit of playing at home where they have only lost one of the seven games played there. Monterrey are part of a tougher group two where the first and second place, Morelia and America, have the same points. A win could increase Monterrey’s chance of going into the Liguilla thanks to group qualification. Currently San Luis have Oscar Mascorro out due to suspension. Monterrey have Abraham Carreño out due to injury.
Prediction: Monterrey, 1-0.
Indios vs. Puebla, 8 p.m. ET
Last placed Indios will host Puebla in the Jornada 14. Indios only have four points, while Puebla have gathered four. The home team has the additional problem of having to contend with possible relegation. They sit in second to last place on the relegation table and are quickly falling to the advancements of Queretaro. Javier Malagueño and Daniel Frias will be missing for Indios, and Joaquin Velazquez and Andres Nicolas Oliveira will be gone for Puebla due to suspension. Indios have not won at home so this could be the chance to give their spectators something to celebrate. Puebla have the fourth best defense, but have only scored 16 goals.
Prediction: Draw 0-0
Tigres vs. Estudiantes, 8 p.m. ET
Tigres and Estudiantes will both be looking to make that last push to try and get into the Liguilla. Both Tigres and Estudiantes are in group three with Tigres in the third slot and Estudiantes in the fifth. Tigres has not lost in their last three encounters and have looked better now than they have all season. Estudiantes on the other hand are coming off a very important win against Toluca. Tigres will go with out Jose Rivas and Israel Jimenez who are both injured. Estudiantes will not count with Rubens Sambueza and Juan Carlos Leaño who are both suspended.
Prediction: Tigres, 2-0.
Atlas vs. Pachuca, 9:45 p.m. ET
Both Atlas and Pachuca are poised in great spots to reach the Liguilla. Atlas needs to win to climb up the steps in a very weak group one where the second spot is basically up for grabs. Pachuca could climb further up in the difficult group two with a positive result. Pachuca, however still have a cushion thanks to their 22 points and could qualify 7th or 8th because of that. Atlas is coming off two straight defeats which includes one against Queretaro. Pachuca barely won against Indios in their last game which signals that work needs to be done. Nestor Vidrio and Ricardo Jimenez who are suffering from injury. Pachuca will have to go without the services of Paul Aguilar who is injured.
Prediction: Pachuca, 1-0.
SUNDAY
Toluca vs. Queretaro, 1 p.m. ET
The battle of three's will take place on Sunday. Queretaro is on a three game winning streak and Toluca has not won in three games. Queretaro have turned it up in the last stretch of the season. Los Gallos Blancos are in very good shape to take the second spot in the weakest group of the league. Toluca practically have a Liguilla berth secure but they will want to rekindle themselves with wins before the regular seaoson is over. Queretaro has not seen a victory in their last seven trips to the Nemesio Diez and their last positive result was a tie in the 91-92 tournament. Edgar Dueñas will be suspended and Hernan Cristante is still injured and will not be featuring for Toluca. Queretaro is not reporting any losses for the encounter.
Prediction: Queretaro, 2-1.
Morelia vs. Chivas, 1 p.m. ET
If this match were to come down to what club needs it more, Morelia would stand a better chance of walking away with three points. Morelia are tied with America atop Group 2 and need as many points as possible to stave off the rest of what is easily the toughest group of the Apertura 2009 campaign. But Morelia will have a tough go at it as key players Hugo Droguett and Miguel Sabah are out on suspension while manager Tomas Boy is also suspended for the match. Morelia are coming off a tough loss at Puebla but will be hungry to return to form against Chivas. Meanwhile, Chivas fell at America in the Superclasico and might still be reeling from such a difficult loss.
Prediction: Morelia, 1-0.
America vs. Jaguares, 5:30 p.m. ET
A win over Chivas at home was massive for Club America, but the win did not help them overtake Morelia for the group lead. America, like the rest of their Group 3 rivals, need points in order to keep pace with the toughest group. Facing a lowly Jaguares side would seem a great opportunity to walk away with maximum points. However, America must not take the club lightly. Jaguares, after all, have a 4-1-2 road record, the best in the league. America, though, have a 5-1-1 home record, the second-best in the league, and have scored 17 goals in those games. America need to forget about their Clasico win in order to focus on Jaguares, and the club seems to have done that already.
Prediction: America, 2-0.
Santos vs. Pumas, 6 p.m. ET
Santos Laguna will close out an era against Pumas, but it has little to do with the current season. Santos will bid farewell to Estadio Corona, the team's quaint and cozy but outdated stadium that has seen many good and bad times. Most recently, fans celebrated the Clausura 2008 championship with a final win over Cruz Azul at the venerable building. This time around, Santos hope to leave more positive memories and bid farewell to an old era against a team that has been out of it for some time now. Pumas, though, remain steadfast in their desire to turn their season around, even though the club faces a nearly impossible task of reaching the Liguilla.
Prediction: Santos, 3-1.
Goal.com
For more coverage of the Mexican Apertura 2009 season, visit Goal.com's Mexico section.
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