GUADALAJARA, Mexico – With the Liga MX set to pass the halfway stage this weekend, teams are jockeying for position in and around the playoff places.
DaMarcus Beasley's Puebla are in danger of falling by the wayside and really have to win at home on Friday night in the Estadio Cuauhtemoc against Club León if they are going to kickstart their season (8:30 pm ET, Fox Sports, Azteca America). The Poblanos currently lie in 17th place in the league on five points and are seven points behind the last playoff place.
On Saturday, there is a standout game for US national team fans when Michael Orozco Fiscal's San Luis take on José Torres' Pachuca (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes 2). Like Puebla, San Luis are on just five points and desperate for the victory.
Herculez Gomez should see playing time for Santos Laguna against Jaguares, also Saturday (8 pm ET, TeleFutura), although he could start on the bench after playing most the CONCACAF Champions League match midweek in El Salvador.
Later Saturday evening, Club Tijuana trio Edgar Castillo, Joe Corona and Greg Garza lace up against relegation-threatened Atlas in the border town, looking to extend their lead at the top of the Liga MX (10:30 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
There could also be Yank involvement on Sunday, with Jésus Padilla's Chivas side hosting an out-of-form and struggling Pumas UNAM (6 pm ET, Telemundo).
In Mexico's second division, Marco Vidal has established himself as a regular for Lobos BUAP, and he should start on Friday when the team hosts Altamira (5 pm ET).
Mérida's Yank duo of high-flying Sonny Guadarrama and Isaac Acuña is in action Saturday when the Venados face first-placed Dorados de Sinaloa.
There's a potentially big weekend in store for Moises Hernandez at Comunicaciones in Guatemala. The FC Dallas loanee has finally been registered to play and could debut on Saturday against Juvented Escuintleca ( 8 pm ET).
In Bolivia, 25-year-old Floridian Alejandro Melean's Oriente Petrolero play Wilstermann in that country's top division (Sunday, 6 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
