GUADALAJARA, Mexico – If there is a game not to miss for US national team fans in Mexico this weekend, it is undoubtedly Sunday’s matchup between Puebla and Club Tijuana, with the prospect of up to eight Americans featuring (1 pm ET, ESPN Deportes, Azteca America).
For Puebla, DaMarcus Beasley is set to return after missing out last weekend through injury and Michael Orozco Fiscal should keep his place in the starting XI after a good performance against Tigres UANL last weekend.
As for the visitors, Herculez Gomez – a hat-trick hero in his Tijuana debut on Thursday night in CCL play – and Alejandro Guido are back in the frame for minutes following injuries, while Joe Corona, Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza and Paul Arriola will all be hoping to start a game that is crucial for both sides.
Tijuana have 13 points from 10 games and are in 10th place in the Liga MX table, while Puebla are 13th on 12 points after 11 matches.
Sandwiched in between are Jose Torres' and Jonathan Bornstein’s Tigres, who have played exactly the same number of games and are level on points with Tijuana. Tigres are at surprise package Querétaro on Friday (8:30 pm ET, ESPN Deportes, Azteca America).
On Saturday, Alonso Hernandez will be hoping his fine form in the Copa MX will translate to Liga MX minutes when Monterrey host last-place Pumas UNAM (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Elsewhere, Moises Hernandez started his first game of the season for Saprissa in Costa Rica on Wednesday in their 2-0 win over Belén but was sent off in the 65th minute and will miss Sunday’s clash with Cartaginés through suspension.
In Honduras, Kevin Hoyos and Victoria play Sunday at Deportes Savio (4 pm ET).
Farther south in Brazil, Freddy Adu has a decent chance of playing time as Bahia take on Jacuipense on Sunday in the regional Copa Governador (12:30 pm ET).
Finally, in Mexico’s second division, Marco Vidal’s Lobos BUAP travel to Correcaminos on Friday (9:30 pm ET) and Jesus Padilla’s Dorados host Sonny Guadarrama’s Necaxa on Saturday (9 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
