GUADALAJARA, Mexico — There's no doubt about the game of the week in Mexico, and one US striker will be determined to perform make his mark.
Last season, Herculez Gomez saw his last minute penalty saved as Santos Laguna lost in the Estadio Omnilife against Chivas and will look to make amends when the two teams clash on Sunday in the same venue (6 pm ET, Telemundo), with Jesús Padilla a possibility for the Guadalajara team.
Also on Sunday, DaMarcus Beasley's Puebla make their home season opener against Toluca (1 pm ET, ESPN Deportes) with the former MLSer a doubt after coming off injured last Friday against Tijuana. Puebla have given no official confirmation of whether he may be involved and hadn't responded to a request for an update by press time.
Former Philadelphia Union defender Michael Orozco Fiscal is in for a tough test on Saturday evening when his San Luis host Cruz Azul in the Estadio Alfonso Lastras Ramírez (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Earlier Saturday, Pachuca fans get to see their new-look Hugo Sánchez-led team at home for the first time when it plays Atlas (8 pm ET, TeleFutura). Texan midfielder José Francisco Torres is in line for a start after missing Pachuca's midweek cup game.
Jonathan Bornstein featured last weekend for Tigres UANL and would probably love to show Atlante a little of what it missed out on this Saturday (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes). Bornstein was loaned out to the Cancún-based club by Tigres in the offseason, but personal terms proved a stumbling block and the deal fell through.
Club América's Ventura Alvarado is looking to make his Primera División debut after completing 90 minutes in the Copa MX on Wednesday. Las Águilas face Jaguares on Saturday (6 pm ET, Univision).
On Friday, Club Tijuana's Joe Corona and Edgar Castillo are likely to suit up against Club León, although there is, at press time, no way to watch the game, with newly promoted León still hashing out their TV deal (10:30 pm ET).
In Mexico's second division, Marco Vidal's Lobos BUAP face Correcaminos (Friday, 5 pm ET), Isaac Acuña and Sonny Guadarrama are available for Club Mérida's trip to Universidad de Guadalajara (Fri, 9:45 pm ET) and Adrian Ruelas' Veracruz play Celaya (Sat, 7 pm ET).
Finally, in Colombia, goalkeeper Kevin Piedrahita moved this week from América de Cali to Itaguí and will be hoping for action in the first week of the new season when his new side takes on La Equidad (Sunday, 4:30 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
