GUADALAJARA, Mexico – With Christian Giménez out injured and Marco Fabián suspended, LA Galaxy loanee Jose Villarreal (above) will be hoping for his Cruz Azul debut on Saturday against Chiapas in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Teammate Michael Farfan is also available, with the American duo both yet to feature for La Máquina in an official game.
Jose Torres will have his fingers crossed that his goal midweek in the Copa MX will propel him into Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti’s starting lineup for Friday’s game at Morelia (8:30 pm ET, Azteca America), with Tigres UANL having struggled without the Texan in their first two matches of the Clausura 2014.
DaMarcus Beasley and Michael Orozco are both likely to start for Puebla, also Friday, as they looks for their first win of the season against Santos Laguna in Torreón (10:30 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Club Tijuana’s band of Yanks play on Saturday at Pachuca (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes), with coach César Farías to decide between Greg Garza and Edgar Castillo at left back. Herculez Gomez and Paul Arriola are both available, while Joe Corona is a doubt after picking up an injury to his left foot in last Friday’s 1-0 victory over Club America.
Also Saturday, Jonathan Bornstein’s Atlante face a trip to Guadalajara to confront relegation rivals Atlas in a must-win game (10 pm ET, Univision Deportes 2).
In Friday's Ascenso MX action, Austin Guerrero and Altamira play at Estudiantes Tecos (8:30 pm ET), while Marco Vidal'sand Daniel Cuevas’ Lobos BUAP travel to Atlético San Luis (9 pm ET).
For Necaxa, Sonny Guadarrama and Ventura Alvarado were both held back in the Copa MX midweek and should feature at home against Zacatepec (9 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
