Liga MX: Club America takes on Tigres as Liguilla approaches
We’re at the point in the season where the Liga MX big boys stop experimenting and start turning their attention towards securing the Apertura title. America and Tigres will clash this Saturday hoping to prepare themselves for Liguilla.
Fresh off a disappointing 1-1 draw with Chivas, Club America turns their attention to Tigres UANL. Las Aguilas are sitting in the 2nd position in the Liga MX table, while Tigres occupy the 7th spot. This is the time of the year where Tigres starts to look more like the side that has won the last couple Apertura’s, however, so table position is largely irrelevant.
The clash of these two titans is must-see entertainment for Liga MX fans. It all starts at 7pm CDT on Saturday.
Last Match
Club America: D v Chivas 1-1
Despite having the better of the play for most of the match, Club America conceded the first goal of the match to Chivas’ Alan Pulido in the 59th minute. Andres Ibarguen would find the equalizing goal in the 81st and it looked like we were headed for a slightly disappointing but somewhat deserved draw. Late in stoppage time, however, Henry Martin-who is normally involved in stoppage time, it seems – drew a penalty when Chiva keeper Raul Gudino made a poor play on the ball and took down Martin in the box. Gudino was able to redeem his mistake, though, stopping Mateus Uribe’s attempt from the spot to seal a point for CD Guadalajara, much to the dismay of Americanistas.
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Tigres: W @ Queretaro 0-2
Continuing their slow but sure play throughout the season, Tigres waited until the 2nd half to get on the scoreboard. Andres-Pierre Gignac found the back of the net in minute 49 and 84 and Tigres forced Queretaro’s Tiago Volpi to make 4 save sin the second half to keep the score respectable.
Predicted Lineups
Club America: 4-4-2
Marchesin
Aguilar – Valdez – Alvarez – Sanchez
Renato- Rodriguez – Uribe – Ibarrguen
Peralta – Martin
Edson Alvarez is back this week and should provide a boost to the team, as a result. I suspect Andres Ibarrguen earned himself a start this week after coming on in the 2nd half against Chivas and scoring the lone America goal. Cecilio Dominguez was underwhelming last week and Diego Lainez may or may not be healthy enough to go, so Ibarrguen gets another go here. Roger Martinez started in the SuperClasico, but he’s still not adjusted to the league and Henry Martin at least has been making some things happen lately, even if he isn’t actually scoring goals.
Tigres: 4-3-3
Guzman
Rodriguez – Ayala – Torres – Duenas
Carioca- Pizarro – Zelarayan
Quinones – Gignac – Vargas
Tigres went to a 4-4-2 setup agains Los Gallos Blancos last week, as Eduardo Vargas stayed on the bench for the match, presumably to rest up. It seems like they have typically lined up in a 4-3-3, however, with Gignac centering the front line, giving the Monterrey-based club a strong spine of Gignac, Guido Pizarro, and Hugo Ayala. They’ve only scored three goals in the first half of all their matches, all at home. Will they be pushing for a first half goal on Saturday or waiting back a bit more to cut match in half? They’ve only allowed nine goals all season and just three at home, but America is the top scoring team in the league. Therefore, I wonder if they’ll bide their time to throw everything at Las Aguilas in the 2nd half or if they come out firing right away.
Key Players
Club America: Edson Alvarez will be a busy guy Saturday. Andre-Pierre Gignac is one of the best forward players in the league, obviously, so it will be up to Alvarez to keep Gignac quiet. Gignac has eight goals on the season, or half of Tigres’ goals overall. He hasn’t played as big of a role in setting up goals for teammates this season but that element is certainly worth being concerned about, as well. Alvarez has been America’s most dynamic defender, even without scoring goals. His 88% pass rate and 25 tackles on the season will be a welcome re-addition into the lineup.
Tigres: Guido Pizarro will play a major role in keeping the America midfield from getting a grip on the match. America’s midfield is where the offense is generated, without a standout forward leading the line. If Pizarro can gum up the middle of the pitch, Tigres will have the better chances in the match and America will struggle to get going. Then his 90% pass rate will quickly move Tigres into the attack.
Prediction
Though I think Edson Alvarez is the key player for America, this really might be a case of Guido versus Guido. Guido Rodriguez is the best defensive-mid in Liga MX, in my opinion, and Guido Pizarro is definitely also in that conversation. That epic battle in the middle of the park will be something to watch as they’ll be going back and forth the whole match. I’ve felt America has been lacking that something they need to really take the next step as a club and Tigres feel like their starting to pick up steam towards Liguilla. At home, the advantage goes to Tigres.