Club America begins their title defense hosting their new manager’sformer club.
Photo Credit: LIGA Bancomer MX
By: Jonny Rico
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The Liga MX returns to action today (Friday) about a three week hiatus. These are the three must watch games from the opening week, as well as the full Week 1 schedule.
Club America vs Club Leon
Saturday, June 10th – 6:00pm EST / 3:00pm PST
The reigning champions Club America return to action at home in the Estadio Azteca after winning their record setting 12th league title. With many new faces including new manager Gustavo Matosas they will host Club Leon; Matosas’ ex-team. Matosas was brought into America to make the team a more attacking and less cold and calculating which was the formula used my former manager Antonio Mohamed to lead the team to the top of the table and playoff championship. Club Leon on the other hand also took aggressive measures upon Matosas’ departure and went out and signed Argentine-Spanish manager Juan Antonio Pizzi, who has a great track record in Spain. Pizzi his a quality manager but all new manager go through and adaptation period when arriving in Mexico.
Tigres UANL vs Club Atlas
Saturday, June 10th – 8:00pm EST / 5:00pm PST
Last season’s runners up Tigres begin their season at home hosting Atlas who finished last season in third place of the league table and got knocked out at the quarterfinal stage. Both sides are Copa Libertadores bound and have been preparing with great intensity. Atlas was able to secure controversial and outspoken manager Tomas Boy to stay. Tigres’ own outspoken manager Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti was said to have a contract with the club “until the the day he wishes to leave” said a club director during the playoffs last season. Fan patience at Tigres, which have been extremely loyal up until now will surely lay on the balance with the Copa Libertadores performance. One of Ferretti’s biggest criticisms is his general disinterest in international competitions.
Chiapas FC vs Chivas Guadalajara
Saturday June 10th – 10:00pm EST / 7:00pm PST
Chivas of Guadalajara begin a crucial six months in their club history as they try to avoid being relegated to the second division for the first time. They went out into the transfer market and did the best they could; considering their own implemented limitations of only being able to sign Mexican nationals. They managed to convince Marco Fabian and Miguel Ponce to return from loan, they signed talented and World Cup rostered Toluca youngster Isaac Brizuela, as well signed Real Salt Lake defender Carlos Salcedo and secured a loan deal for Houston Dynamo’s Erick “Cubo” Torres. Chiapas FC will not make this first match easy on the historic Mexican side, the quite small club is notorious for making life impossible for the bigger clubs and even sneaking into the playoffs with regularity as they did last season.
Full Week 1 Schedule
FRIDAY June 9th:
Santos vs Veracruz – 9:00pm EST / 6:00pm PST
Morelia vs Toluca – 10:30pm EST / 7:30pm PST
SATURDAY June 10th:
Club America vs Club Leon – 6:00pm EST / 3:00pm PST
Puebla FC vs Tijuana Xolos – 6:00pm EST / 3:00pm PST
Tigres UANL vs Club Atlas – 8:00pm EST / 5:00pm PST
Pachuca vs Cruz Azul – 9:00pm EST / 6:00pm PST
Chiapas FC vs Chivas Guadalajara – 10:00pm EST / 7:00pm PST
SUNDAY June 11th:
Pumas UNAM vs Club Queretaro – 1:00pm EST / 10:00am PST
Leones Negros vs Monterrey – 6:00pm EST / 3:00pm PST
