Liga MX is back this weekend after a month-long break which saw all 18 teams compete at the Leagues Cup. Games were played throughout the United States and Canada as teams from the MLS and Liga MX went head-to-head. The tournament is currently at the quarter final stage with Club América and Mazatlán the only Mexican representatives remaining in the competition.
This weekend, teams will begin to return to domestic duties given that their involvements in the Leagues Cup were cut short, with all of the sides returning having bowed out at the group stage or round of 32.
Friday 16th August 2024
Puebla vs Monterrey
Puebla lost both of their games at the Leagues Cup and now has to look as far back as the opening Matchday for a win where they beat Santos Laguna 1-0, thanks to a 96th-minute penalty from Lucas Cavallini. To make things even worse, their record against Monterrey does not make for easy reading. Of their last five meetings, Los Rayados have won three with Puebla only winning once, winning 1-0 in February 2022.
Despite their poor recent form and head-to-head record with Monterrey, they can take comfort in knowing that their visitors have also had a poor spell. Two losses at the Leagues Cup, albeit a penalty shootout defeat to Pumas, saw manager Fernando Ortiz released from his duties. This week, only days before the meeting with Puebla, the club announced that his replacement would be former Bayern Munich and Manchester City defender Martín Demichelis. Whilst there is trouble in paradise after an early exit from the Leagues Cup, Los Rayados have won three of their first four Liga MX matches this season.
Sunday 18th August 2024
Tijuana vs Santos Laguna
Atlético de San Luís vs Querétaro
Los Xolos shipped six goals across their two Leagues Cup matches against LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps but Juan Carlos Osorio and his men will be looking to bounce back with a win at home against Santos Laguna. Two wins helped them start the season perfectly before a humbling loss to Clausura runners-up Cruz Azul and a 1-1 draw with San Luís.
Santos Laguna fared slightly better at the Leagues Cup, despite losing the opening game 3-0 to DC United, a penalty shootout victory against Atlanta United gave them a shot at the knockout rounds. In the round of 32, they faced Cincinnati FC but were unable to repeat their shootout luck, ultimately crashing out of the competition. As for their league record, three defeats in four reads bleak for the Torréon club. Their final game before the break was a 3-0 loss to Tigres, and they have only managed to score once in their opening four games. The one positive for Ignacio Ambriz's team is the 1-1 draw against Pumas, a side who had a polar opposite opening four games, remaining undefeated and currently sitting in second place.
This game remains crucial for both teams, looking to avoid a negative slump.
The only team with a worse record than Santos are the team playing in the final game of the weekend, which is Querétaro. Los Gallos were the only team to lose all four of their opening fixtures, although the faced difficult oppositions in the form of reigning Liga MX champions Club América, along with Clausura semi finalists Chivas and Monterrey.
The Leagues Cup did not fare any better for Querétaro who lost a penalty shootout to NYCFC and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cincinnati. Whilst results have not gone in their favour, they face a San Luís side who have not won a game since the opening match of the season, like Puebla. A 2-1 win against América raised eyebrows for a side that reached the 2023 Apertura semi-final. Since then, draws against Mazatlán and Tijuana accompany a 2-0 loss to Pachuca. In the Leagues Cup, they suffered a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Impact before Orlando City ended their competition with a penalty shootout win. Now, they remain in the middle of the Liga MX table, hoping for three points against a Querétaro looking for their first points of the season.
Who do you think will impress this weekend, let us know!