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Liga MX Review: FC Juarez vs Santos

By Eduardo Fernandez

CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 09: Victor Velazquez of Juarez celebrates after scoring the first goal of his team during the 5th round match between FC Juarez and Necaxa as part of the Torneo Clausura 2020 Liga MX at Olimpico Benito Juarez on February 9, 2020 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Photo by Alvaro Avila/Jam Media/Getty Images)
CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 09: Victor Velazquez of Juarez celebrates after scoring the first goal of his team during the 5th round match between FC Juarez and Necaxa as part of the Torneo Clausura 2020 Liga MX at Olimpico Benito Juarez on February 9, 2020 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. (Photo by Alvaro Avila/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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FC Juarez lost on Sunday to Santos Laguna at home in a shocking manner for many supporters of Los Bravos.

The loss is not what shocked many as the final game of the Jornada 7 of the Clausura 2020 but the way FC Juarez performed on the field is what many many of their fans with a bitter taste. Because overall, this is not the team FC Juarez fans are used to seeing in the Clausura 2020. The most glaring hole for Juarez is the absence of Diego Rolan from the starting lineup. Rolan not being available makes Dario Lezcano’s role as playmaker much harder to accomplish. Teams are able to focus on Lezcano and are willing to let Mauro Fernandez and Angelo Sagal beat them since they have not proved they can do it. Because of this change, coach Gabriel Caballero has elected for the past two matches to play with three holding midfielders, Jefferson Intriago, Joaquin Esquivel, and Martin Rabuñal started the match versus Santos continuing this gameplan. Against Rayados last week this game plan paid dividends allowing Los Bravos to secure a point away from home.

The first half saw complete domination from Santos. FC Juarez was not able to respond with any type of attack and saw themselves controlled in each facet of the game. Los Bravos were lucky to go into the half only down one. The most striking observation from the first half was Juarez’ inability to build up play from the back. Santos is known for playing high press but that is also the case for Juarez. Ever since Caballero has played with three holding midfielders this style of play has gone out the window and this proved to be fatal against Juarez. Santos suffocating press made the first half insufferable for FC Juarez and fans.

The second half saw FC Juarez show some improvement but still struggled with Santos high press. A worrying performance came from Israel Jimenez who consistently struggles to be able to link up with Intriago or Esquivel to begin to play. This trend seems to have been picked up on by other Liga MX teams since most press on FC Juarez backlines begins when Jimenez touches the ball.

FC Juarez changed drastically when Flavio Santos came on to play for Rabuñal, this substitution transformed Los Bravos to the team they were accustomed to see in the first few games of the Clausura 2020. By inserting Santos, Caballero was able to revert to the playing style that led to such a historic beginning to the season. This change saw Juarez go back to two holding midfielders with Santos playing behind Lezcano and Sagal and Fernandez playing the wings. Going back to this style of play allowed Juarez to press again as well as play more attacking football, if FC Juarez wants to continue to contend for a Liguilla spot then they have to stick to this style of play. Caballero can not go back to his Ascenso ways when having a team that is full of so much talent. Hopefully the past two results indicate to Gabriel Caballero and Jorge Pautasso that an attack minded style of play is what will put Juarez into the Liguilla.

FC Juarez did not play well enough futbol to win this match and this result should serve as a wake up call for Juarez that the season is long and not over after a couple of good results.

Arriba Juarez!

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