While many Mexican players are now aboard flights or already in Argentina ahead of El Tri's final friendly matches of 2018, several left their mark in Europe before taking off this weekend.
Andres Guardado stayed behind, with the veteran yet to return to the national team after the World Cup. He can take some time to celebrate Real Betis' 4-3 win over La Liga leaders Barcelona. Guardado played all 90 minutes, and while he didn't exactly shut down Lionel Messi, he definitely helped the team to a victory.
Messi ended up with two goals in the high-scoring contest, but Guardado pitched in to contain the rest of Barca's attack. The 32-year-old earned a yellow card in the first half but continued to track back and also help start attacks. Guardado came into the club's 1-1 draw with Milan in the Europa League three days earlier as a substitute.
Mexico forward Raul Jimenez will take part in this month's friendly matches and had a nice send-off. Wolves earned a 1-1 draw with Arsenal, and Jimenez assisted on the goal. After Ivan Cavaleiro picked off an errant pass, he found Jimenez on the right side of the box. The Mexican got forward and drove a low cross back to the Portuguese attacker, who finished off the opener. The stalemate snapped a three-match losing streak for Jimenez and his club.
The other Mexican playing in the Premier League, Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez came into West Ham United's match against Huddersfield Town at halftime but was unable to turn the game, which also ended in a 1-1 draw.
Fortunes differed for a pair of El Tri center backs in Spain. Hector Moreno has been left out of several recent Real Sociedad squads but played on the left side of a three-man back line in a 3-1 road victory at Levante. After the international break, La Real plays Celta de Vigo. Nestor Araujo didn't see the field for Celta in a 4-2 loss to Real Madrid; however, with Gustavo Cabral seeing a red card in the contest, Araujo may get the starting nod in the club's next contest, though former Monterrey manager Antonio Mohamed was relieved of his duties on Monday.
Elsewhere in Spain, Miguel Layun wasn't even in the 18 for Villarreal in a weekend draw with Rayo Vallecano. He did start and play an hour of the Yellow Submarine's scoreless draw with Rapid Wein in the Europa League.
Guillermo Ochoa and Standard saw their Europa League hopes take a hit with a 2-1 loss to Krasnodar in group play during the week. Ochoa bounced back with a clean sheet against Kortrijk before leaving to join up with the national team.
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Only one of the two members of PSV's Mexico duo will join him. Both were named to the initial squad, but Hirving Lozano pulled out after suffering a knock. Lozano played all of a 4-1 win over De Graafschap as PSV stayed undefeated. Erick Gutierrez didn't get into that match with PSV making just one change but did see substitute minutes during the week against Tottenham in Champions League play.
In Portugal the Porto pair of Jesus Corona and Hector Herrera were both in action. Corona started and played all of a 1-0 win over Braga. Herrera came off the bench for around 20 minutes in that contest. Each started the midweek Champions League win against Lokomotiv Moscow. However, neither Porto player is headed for national team duty.
Diego Reyes may be looking forward to Fenerbahce naming a new manager. He didn't get off the bench in the club's Europa League or league match this week.
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