Liga MX: Playoff chase takes Querétaro to Toluca
In one of the three games on Matchday 14 that has playoff seeding permutations for both teams (Monterrey at Santos and América at Cruz Azul are the other two), Querétaro pays a visit to Toluca.
The Diablos Rojos are the league’s third-best home team while the Gallos Blancos are among the league’s best road teams, so this should be a 90-minute battle. Although Toluca has looked like a playoff team throughout the season, their lack of discipline on the pitch has hurt them. Skipper Rubens Sambueza will miss the match after being shown a red card last week (his second ejection of the season).
Querétaro showed it’s a genuine playoff-caliber team after stunning then-first place Cruz Azul with two late goals last week. Coach Rafa Puente has proven the naysayers wrong, appearing calm and masterful on the bench though he has yet to find a good partner for Camilo Sanvezzo in attack.
Last match
Toluca: 2-1 loss at Monterrey
The Diablos failed to protect a late lead against the injury-riddled Rayados (although Monterrey has quality bench players) and showed some defensive holes. Veteran goalie Alfredo Talavera was a little rusty after several weeks on the bench, but it was the team defense that let him down, particularly on the game-winner when Daniel Lajud had time to step into a shot at the top of the box off a corner kick.
Querétaro: 2-0 win vs Cruz Azul
The Gallos Blancos played splendid defense (a characteristic of this team) against the Cementeros holding them to only 4 shots on goal and limiting their scoring chances. They also froze out Cruz Azul’s offense with sustained possession (55%) and benefited considerably from the entry of Edson Puch at the hour mark. Sanvezzo knocked him 8th goal in minute 88 and 17-year-old Marcel Ruiz finished off a pretty play a minute later for the second goal.
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Possible line-ups
Toluca: 4-4-2
Talavera
Salinas – Gonzalez – Tobio – Borja
Mendoza – William – Rios – Quiñones
Vega – Canelo
William da Silva returns after a 1-game red-card suspension and he’ll step into the hole left by Sambueza’s ejection last week. The formation morphs into a 4-5-1 at times (Alexis Vegas plays a supporting role behind Alexis Canelo) and as frequently as Rodrigo Salinas and Cristián Borja like to get forward, Toluca can be oppressive in its offensive half of the field. Luis “Quick” Mendoza will be called on from time-to-time to guide the offense from the right flank.
Querétaro: 4-4-2
Volpi
Corral – Mier – Romo – Pérez
Puch – Gómez – Guemez – Villalva
Ruiz – Sanvezzo
Chile international Edson Puch might start on the bench (in favor of Jordi Cortizo) if coach Puente prefers a conservative formation to begin this key game on the road. He could come in and provide instant offense, if needed. Hiram Mier and Luis Romo have been a strong central defense tandem and play well in front of keeper Tiago Volpi.
Key players
Toluca: Alexis Vega has shown flashes of his potential, but the 20-year-old forward has not been very productive. He has become more comfortable playing behind a lone striker rather than in a 2-man attack. He will need to find space in the channels and work to support Alexis Canelo up front while presenting himself for feeds from Mendoza and Luis Quiñones.
Querétaro: George Corral and Alexis Pérez must coordinate their flanking coverage with Mier and Romo, especially since Toluca is adept at attacking from the wings. The two fullbacks will still be expected to get forward and support the attack, but their primary responsibility – at least through the first half – will be shutting off Mendoza and Quiñones while also keeping their counterparts – fullbacks Salinas and Borja – from getting too far forward.
Prediction
It can be maddening to see a team with the talent of Toluca hurt themselves repeatedly with self-inflicted wounds (red cards, committing penalties). And yet the Diablos’ home-field advantage has them solidly in the playoff race. Querétaro faces Santos at home next week and won’t want to miss out on key road points, so expect them to play a conservative, patient style. Toluca must avoid frustration fouls, because the Gallos Blancos will try to exasperate Toluca with tough defense.