Mexicans Abroad: Jimenez assist, Alanis injury stand out in quiet week

Some guys have all the luck - and some can't get any. It was a quiet week for Mexicans playing in Europe, with the two headline stories bringing a pair of El Tri players into stark contrast.

On the one hand, there's Raul Jimenez. After playing a role largely as a super sub with Benfica the last several seasons, the forward moved to Wolverhampton this summer and has been a standout with Wolves. That continued this weekend, with Jimenez setting up Ivan Cavaleiro for the first goal in a 2-0 win over Southampton. The pass was reminiscent of the one he used to set up Joao Moutinho last week, with Jimenez again getting the ball in the box with his back to net, holding off a defender and pushing the ball toward a runner coming toward the goal.

On the other, there's Oswaldo Alanis. After a long saga with Chivas, the 29-year-old signed with Getafe during the offseason before being deemed surplus to requirements and sent off to find another team. The center back signed with Real Oviedo in Spain's second division and finally made his European debut Sunday, only to leave the field after 18 minutes of play with an injury. The team is back in training Tuesday, when we should learn more about his recovery period.

It was a typical week for Mexicans at Porto. Hector Herrera started, wore the captain's armband and played all of the club's 1-0 victory against Tondela. Jesus "Tecatito" Corona entered around the hour mark to provide a spark in the final 30 minutes.

Former Porto players Miguel Layun and Diego Reyes also saw time this weekend, though neither were able to celebrate a victory. Layun played the second half of Villarreal's 1-0 loss to Real Valladolid on Sunday, while Reyes went all 90 at center back for Fenerbahce in a 3-0 loss to Rizespor. 

Andres Guardado rested ahead of a midweek Europa League match with F91 Dudelange, rather than take part in a 1-0 win over Leganes. Hector Moreno made the bench but didn't come in for Real Sociedad's 1-0 defeat to Valencia.

Things weren't all that normal for Hirving Lozano, simply because he didn't score. PSV still was able to get a 2-0 victory over NAC Breda with Chucky playing 84 minutes. Erick Gutierrez was an unused substitute. PSV faces Inter in the Champions League this week.

There was a brief Omar Govea sighting in Belgium during the week when he played an hour of Antwerp's cup match against Mechelen, a 3-1 loss for Govea and Co. He didn't play this weekend in Belgium, though Guillermo Ochoa was in goal for Standard in a road victory over KV Oostende.  Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez continues to be sidelined by an issue caused by bacteria in the spleen.