The final weekend ahead of Mexico's friendlies against Uruguay and the United States saw plenty of El Tri players in Europe in action, with plenty for Mexico fans to be encouraged about but also reason for concern.
Several players learned their fates in Europe, with Hirving Lozano and PSV in what looks like a difficult Champions League group alongside Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and Inter, while Hector Herrera and Porto are dreaming of topping a group that includes Galatasaray, Lokomotiv Moscow and Schalke.
Herrera scored his first goal of the season and captained Porto to a 3-0 victory over Moreirense. The big win helped the Dragons bounce back from last week's surprise defeat to Vitoria and put them within a point of the top of the table. Jesus Corona, who left the defeat with a glute injury after coming on as a substitute, made another substitute appearance in the 64th minute Saturday and finished the match without difficulty.
New PSV signing Erick Gutierrez looked on from the stands as PSV crushed William II 6-1. Lozano started and played 78 minutes but didn't have a goal in the blowout, a rarity for the winger. Both players are included in Mexico's roster for the upcoming friendlies.
In the Europa League, Diego Reyes and Fernerbache got a decent draw, while those of Andres Guardado and Real Betis, Guillermo Ochoa and Standard, Miguel Layun and Villarreal, and Carlos Salcedo and Frankfurt look to be marginally more difficult.
The concern for Frankfurt is whether or not it will be able to rely on Salcedo, who is set to undergo surgery after suffering a severe ankle injury in a clash with Davy Klaassen. There still hasn't been a timetable released on when the Guadalajara native will be back on the field, but he is set for several weeks out.
Reyes made his Fernerbache debut this weekend, putting in 73 minutes in the midfield in a defeat to Kayserispor.
It was also a club debut for Miguel Layun, who came in as a substitute for Villarreal in the third La Liga match of the season. Unfortunately for the Yellow Submarine, it was a third consecutive match without a victory as they fell 1-0 to Girona.
Guardado wore the captain's armband for the Derbi match against Sevilla and helped Real Betis to a 1-0 victory over the crosstown rival.
In Belgium, it was a second defeat of the season for Ochoa and Standard with Eupen rallying for a 2-1 win.
Nestor Araujo may not be in the Champions League or Europa League, but the center back is feeling good after the weekend. The former Santos Laguna defender was part of Antonio Mohamed's back three that stymied Atletico Madrid to help earn a 2-0 victory. It's Celta's second straight La Liga victory.
That's much better than West Ham, which has lost four straight and now sits at the bottom of the Premier League. Jaiver "Chicharito" Hernandez came into Saturday's contest against Wolves in the 75th minute and ended the match without a shot.
Raul Jimenez played nearly the entire match, but rather than scoring to beat his international teammate's club, he will remember the match for what could have been. In the 79th minute, he was played in but scuffed his shot and fell over rather than putting a shot on goal.
