GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Jose Torres and his Tigres UANL side are desperately close to a Liga MX playoff berth, but will have to pick up points against Atlas at Estadio Jalisco on Saturday evening (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes), in the last round of games in the Apertura’s regular season.
Torres’ Tigres – currently one point off the playoff places – need to win and hope that one of Morelia or Querétaro slip up in their games to reach the postseason. A draw with Atlas will be enough if Querétaro lose on the road to Pachuca on Saturday.
Club Tijuana’s task is much more difficult, with Xolos requiring three points against the impressive León (Sat, 9 pm ET, Telemundo) and then needing two of Morelia, Querétaro and Tigres to lose. Herculez Gomez, Joe Corona, Greg Garza, Edgar Castillo and Paul Arriola are in the frame for minutes for Tijuana.
Puebla’s playoff hopes ended last weekend and DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco Fiscal will enjoy an extended break after Friday’s trip to Morelia (8:30 pm ET, Azteca America, ESPN Deportes), where they could do their fellow Yanks a big favor with a win.
In Mexico’s second division, Sonny Guadarrama's and Ventura Alvarado’s Necaxa host Alebrijes de Oaxaca on Friday (9 pm ET), while Jesus Padilla’s Dorados are on the road on Sunday at Cruz Azul Hidalgo (1 pm ET).
In Central America, Moises Hernandez’s league-leading Saprissa face Alajuelense on Sunday (noon ET) in the Costa Rican clásico, while in Honduras, Kevin Hoyos’ Victoria play Deportes Savio, also on Sunday (4 pm ET).
Down in Brazil, reports suggest Freddy Adu is leaving Bahia and it is unlikely he will see playing time when his team comes up against Atlético Mineiro on Saturday (4:30 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
