Liga MX Preview: Chivas Returns to the Capital

Matchday 9 is upon us as Chivas face Cruz Azul in the weekends standout game.

Chivas v Leon - Torneo Apertura 2024 Liga MX
Chivas v Leon - Torneo Apertura 2024 Liga MX | Jam Media/GettyImages

The latest round of fixtures takes place this weekend after a host of surprises took place throughout the midweek fixtures.

Friday 20th September 2024

Atlas vs Querétaro
Puebla vs Pachuca

Atlas suffered a heavy 3-0 loss to Club América during the week, putting a damper on what has been a great start for the club. They will be aiming to bounce back when facing bottom-of-the-league Querétaro. Los Gallos collected its first points of the season in its last outing by beating high-flying Tigres. Time will only tell if they can finish the week with two great results.

The other Friday night action is at the Estadio Cuautéhmoc as Puebla hosts a Pachuca side that is struggling for form and has received four red cards in its last four games. Los Tuzos are suffering from a hangover after its 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup title and need a result against Puebla to kickstart their season.

Saturday 21st September 2024

León vs San Luís
Monterrey vs Mazatlán
Necaxa vs Club América
Cruz Azul vs Chivas

León accompany Juárez and Querétaro at the foot of the table and face an in-form San Luís side. Handing league leaders Cruz Azul its first loss of the season, the club are in fine form as they travel to a León team that has managed just one win from its opening eight league games.

Los Rayados host Mazatlán in a northern battle. A comeback in dramatic fashion against Juárez saw Martín Demichelis' side join Cruz Azul at the top of the table and a win against a Mazatlán side that has never won this fixture would give them the perfect opportunity to climb to the top of Mexican football.

América's recent resurgence means that they come into the weekend clash against Necaxa in high spirits. Wins against Chivas and Atlas see them jump into the playoff positions, but a home win in this meeting would hand Necaxa the chance to leapfrog Las Águilas.

The final game of the weekend is set to be a cracker. Cruz Azul suffered its first loss of the season in a 3-1 defeat to San Luís, but they face a Chivas side that sits five points adrift. Last week's loss in the capital against América put pressure on Los Rojiblancos to respond but they were able to during the week with a 2-0 victory over León.

Sunday 22nd September 2024

Pumas vs Tijuana
Santos Laguna vs Toluca
FC Juárez vs Tigres

Pumas ended a three-game losing streak with a 1-0 win against Puebla, but they welcome a well-rested Tijuana side that was not involved in the midweek action. Maybe for the best for Los Xolos as they suffered a 4-0 drumming to a high-flying Toluca side. Recent results mean that just one point and one place separates these two clubs heading into the meeting at the Estadio Universitario.

Santos Laguna welcomes a Toluca side that is chasing its 11th Liga MX title this Sunday. Los Diablos Rojos are the only club to remain unbeaten this season with five wins and three draws across its opening eight league matches. To make things even more difficult for Santos, they have only managed to avoid defeat once across their last five meetings with Toluca, conceding 13 goals in the meantime.

The final game of the weekend is on the US/ Mexico border as FC Juárez hosts Tigres. Veljko Paunović's men were on the end of the biggest shock of the midweek fixtures, losing 1-0 to a Querétaro side that was winless prior. Now, they face another side struggling at the foot of the table as Juárez has won just once this season, coming last weekend during a 1-0 victory over Mazatlán.

Which team do you expect to have a big result this weekend? Let us know!