Chivas must avoid looking past cagey San Luis
Guadalajara hoping to build early season momentum as Atletico San Luis pays a visit this weekend.
After a disappointing 1-1 result against Puebla in a game that saw one player sent off from each team, Guadalajara looks to earn another three points. The Chivas are coming off an exciting 2-1 comeback win over Santos in a Wednesday Copa MX match that saw Alexis Vega bag a brace.
Coach Tomas Boy’s team has been inconsistent, made more so by constant juggling of line-ups and tactics. Meanwhile, his seat gets hotter, then less hot, depending on the club’s latest results.
The Chivas must not underestimate Atletico San Luis, something they have been guilty of in recent seasons, and they must play like they did against the Tigres in a Matchday 2 upset.
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Atletico San Luis – a team backed by Atletico de Madrid – joined Liga MX this season after wining promotion from the Ascenso MX. And so far, the Tuneros have been a pleasant surprise. San Luis beat the likes of the Monterrey in Week 2 and, this week managed a 1-1 tie against the Pumas 1-1 in a Copa MX match.
The Tuneros are defensively stout and rely mainly on counter attacks and hustle plays. That makes them dangerous and they’ll happily grind it out against any team. One player to watch out for is Argentine striker Nicolas Ibañez. He’s their #9 and he’s dangerous as a scorer and as a playmaker.
Formations
Chivas: 4-2-2-2
Rodriguez
Van Rankin – Alanis – Briseno – Mayorga
Molina – Cervantes
Brizuela – Lopez
Pulido – Vega
The Chivas looked good in their midweek win over Santos. The difference was Alexis Vega and Alan Cervantes getting more minutes. Coach Boy won’t keep his job for long if he doesn’t penciling Vega in his starting line-up. Oribe Peralta and Alan Pulido have done a lackluster job up front, so it’s time to give Vega minutes … and his two-goal performance in the Copa MX suggests he deserved it.
The Guadalajara defense is stout. I expect nothing to change in the back 4 and goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez was a wall during the final 10 minutes against Puebla (he was basically solely responsible for the point the Chivas earned). The midfield is where they need to mix it up. Giving Cervantes and Dieter Villalpando more time will only benefit the Chivas, without taking away minutes from Eduardo “Chofis” Lopez, of course.
Atletico San Luis: 4-4-2
Rodriguez
Catalan – Laso – Bilbao – Reyes
Maya – Sanchez
Escalante – Mayada
Ibañez – Gonzalez
I’m gonna be the first to admit I don’t know much about San Luis seems, but that is to be expected about a team that just got promoted. They will be less dominant in possession and they try to win by being opportunistic. In other words, they know they won’t create too many chances, so they must capitalize and be efficient on the counter. They have two fine Argentine forwards – the very talented Ricardo Centurion and Nicolas Ibañez. They also have a player from Bilbao, Spain – defender Unai Bilbao – and another Argentine in goal, Axel Werner. Basically, everybody that didn’t make the Atletico Madrid B team. That being said, Atletico Madrid C teams would be pretty good. I expect the same formation they used against the Rayados: 4-2-2-2. Why does everyone line up like this? Two defensive midfielders? Nobody is watching for the defending. Anyway …
Prediction
I see Alexis Vega getting a goal, and Antonio Briseño bagging one, too. I don’t think Atletico San Luis will get anything past Antonio Rodriguez in goal. For once, Guadalajara doesn’t take an underdog team lightly (and players aren’t out drinking the night before the game). The Chivas take another step away from relegation.