Liga MX Preview
Busy Weekend for Yanks Playing South of the Border
Week five in Liga MX promises to deliver some compelling story lines for Americans playing down south. Here's what to look for, with all matches kicking off on Saturday.
América vs. Atlante
6 p.m Saturday (all times Eastern), Univision
Jonathan Bornstein hasn't been suiting up as of late but his side will host Club América, which is looking for its third win in five games. Veracruz vs. Puebla
6 p.m Saturday, Univision Deportes Network 2
DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco's Puebla team gave up two goals to Chiapas last week in what turned out to be an ugly and disappointing 3-2 loss, and Beasley gave U.S. fans a scare when he went down with a leg injury. Chivas vs. Cruz Azul
8 p.m Saturday, UniMas
Will Michael Farfan or Rafa Baca make an appearance for Cruz Azul? Former Los Angeles Galaxy forward Jose Villarreal scored in the second minute for Cruz Azul in the U-20 match today, where he featured for the first time since moving to the Mexico City club on loan. And even if Farfan or Baca don't see the field, this contest will still be a fun game to watch for Liga MX enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Both teams enter week five with undefeated records and are two of the most popular teams in Mexico. Cruz Azul is the stronger of the two but Chivas has shown signs of resiliency this season and will have a distinct home field advantage. Monterrey vs. Tigres
8 p.m Saturday, Univision Deportes
If you're looking for an all-but-guaranteed Yank sighting, consider this match, which pits Jose "Gringo" Torres against Monterrey. Torres will welcome back his teammate and El Tri hero, Alan Pulido, who bagged a hat trick in his first-ever cap for Mexico on Wednesday against South Korea. Chiapas vs. Querétaro
7 p.m Saturday, Univision Deportes
Though not a Yank, former MLS Golden Boot winner Camilo Sanvezzo made plenty of headlines recently when he abandoned the Vancouver Whitecaps to join Querétaro. The Brazilian could make his debut for Gallos Blancos against Chiapas Saturday when the team travels to Estadio Victor Manuel Reyna. Pumas UNAM vs. Tijuana
1 p.m Sunday, Univision
Xolos travel to Mexico City where it will face Pumas UNAM in an attempt to break its year-long, winless-on-the-road streak. Tijuana has not won on the road since January 20th, 2013—against this very same team. Pumas, incidentally, hasn't been able to muster a victory over Tijuana over the last five meetings between the two.
Herculez Gomez and Edgar Castillo are expected to start, and U.S. fans will have their fingers crossed that Joe Corona is back to 100% after a nagging ankle injury has kept him out of the starting lineup since early January. Greg Garza and/or Paul Arriola are likely to come in off the bench at some point, and Alejandro Guido and Stevie Rodriguez are set to play with the U-20's just before the first team kicks off.
6 p.m Saturday (all times Eastern), Univision
Jonathan Bornstein hasn't been suiting up as of late but his side will host Club América, which is looking for its third win in five games. Veracruz vs. Puebla
6 p.m Saturday, Univision Deportes Network 2
DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco's Puebla team gave up two goals to Chiapas last week in what turned out to be an ugly and disappointing 3-2 loss, and Beasley gave U.S. fans a scare when he went down with a leg injury. Chivas vs. Cruz Azul
8 p.m Saturday, UniMas
Will Michael Farfan or Rafa Baca make an appearance for Cruz Azul? Former Los Angeles Galaxy forward Jose Villarreal scored in the second minute for Cruz Azul in the U-20 match today, where he featured for the first time since moving to the Mexico City club on loan. And even if Farfan or Baca don't see the field, this contest will still be a fun game to watch for Liga MX enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Both teams enter week five with undefeated records and are two of the most popular teams in Mexico. Cruz Azul is the stronger of the two but Chivas has shown signs of resiliency this season and will have a distinct home field advantage. Monterrey vs. Tigres
8 p.m Saturday, Univision Deportes
If you're looking for an all-but-guaranteed Yank sighting, consider this match, which pits Jose "Gringo" Torres against Monterrey. Torres will welcome back his teammate and El Tri hero, Alan Pulido, who bagged a hat trick in his first-ever cap for Mexico on Wednesday against South Korea. Chiapas vs. Querétaro
7 p.m Saturday, Univision Deportes
Though not a Yank, former MLS Golden Boot winner Camilo Sanvezzo made plenty of headlines recently when he abandoned the Vancouver Whitecaps to join Querétaro. The Brazilian could make his debut for Gallos Blancos against Chiapas Saturday when the team travels to Estadio Victor Manuel Reyna. Pumas UNAM vs. Tijuana
1 p.m Sunday, Univision
Xolos travel to Mexico City where it will face Pumas UNAM in an attempt to break its year-long, winless-on-the-road streak. Tijuana has not won on the road since January 20th, 2013—against this very same team. Pumas, incidentally, hasn't been able to muster a victory over Tijuana over the last five meetings between the two.
Herculez Gomez and Edgar Castillo are expected to start, and U.S. fans will have their fingers crossed that Joe Corona is back to 100% after a nagging ankle injury has kept him out of the starting lineup since early January. Greg Garza and/or Paul Arriola are likely to come in off the bench at some point, and Alejandro Guido and Stevie Rodriguez are set to play with the U-20's just before the first team kicks off.
