GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Edgar Castillo’s Atlas travel to Monterrey on Saturday in a battle of two of the Liga MX’s best teams so far in the Apertura tournament (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Castillo has started every league game this season so far for Atlas, who could move into first position with a win. But that would depend on Ventura Alvarado’s Club América slipping up on the road to Santos Laguna on Friday (10:30 pm ET, Azteca America, ESPN DOS).
Club Tijuana’s Paul Arriola put in a very positive performance midweek in the Copa MX and will be hoping it leads to Liga MX minutes when Xolos play away against struggling Veracruz on Friday night (8 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Joe Corona and Greg Garza are likely starters for Xolos, with Alejandro Guido also in the frame for minutes.
UANL's Herculez Gomez and Jose Torres return to their former side Pachuca in a crunch matchup Saturday (8 pm ET, Telemundo). Both teams are on 13 points and would significantly boost their playoff chances with a victory.
On Sunday, Michael Orozco will be involved in a relegation humdinger as Puebla face Chivas in Guadalajara (6 pm ET, Univision Deportes). Los Rojiblancos are currently two points ahead of Orozco and La Franja in Mexico’s relegation table.
Earlier Sunday, Gabriel Farfan’s Chiapas plays Pumas in Mexico City (1 pm ET, Univision Deportes).
Down in Mexico’s second division, Juan Pablo Ocegueda’s Alebrijes de Oaxaca travel to Daniel Cuevas’ Lobos BUAP on Friday (6 pm ET), while Marco Vidal’s Mineros de Zacatecas host San Luis (8:30 pm ET).
On Saturday, Sonny Guadarrama’s Atlante are at Zacatepec (7 pm ET).
Tom Marshall covers Americans playing in Latin America for MLSsoccer.com. E-mail him at tom.marshall.mex@gmail.com.
