With the top six clubs in the Mexican Primera División within a span of three points in the overall league table, the 2011 Clausura regular season is turning into a free-for-all.
The only American in that mix is Jonathan Bornstein, as his Tigres UANL look to keep pace with a home match against Édgar Castillo’s Puebla on Saturday. Although the match will not be televised in the United States, it still remains to be seen whether the former Chivas USA captain will be involved after his name was not called upon for the scoreless derby last weekend against Monterrey.
He also did not complete a full week of practice, sitting out Tuesday’s session with stomach pains.
While Pachuca and US World Cup veterans José Francicso Torres and Hercules Gomez face another opportunity to vault into the top half of the table against a competitive San Luis side, it’s getting desperate for Francisco Javier López and Jaguares de Chiapas. They're at the bottom of the league table with a measly four points and are coming off a 4-0 midweek thrashing in the Copa Libertadores.
Awaiting them is none other than Chivas de Guadalajara in a match in which López will hope to see his first minutes of the season.
In the Liga de Ascenso (Second Division), Marco Vidal’s León still find themselves atop the table with a visit to mid-table Dorados scheduled for Saturday. They may need a win to reclaim the top spot if Correcaminos, which is tied with León on 14 points, succeeds in defeating Joaquin Alonso’s Indios on Friday.
MEXICAN PRIMERA DIVISIÓN
Jonathan Bornstein (Tigres UANL): vs. Puebla – Saturday, Feb. 26
Édgar Castillo (Puebla): @ Tigres – Saturday, Feb. 26
José Torres, Hérculez Gómez (Pachuca): vs. San Luis – Saturday, Feb. 26 (TeleFutura, 8 p.m. ET)
Sammy Ochoa, Daniel Atunéz (Tecos): @ UNAM Pumas – Sunday, Feb 27 (Telemundo, 1 p.m. ET)
Sonny Guadarrama (Atlante): @ Morelia – Sunday, Feb. 27 (Fox Deportes, 1 p.m. ET)
Isaác Acuña (Querétaro): vs. Cruz Azul – Saturday, Feb. 26 (Univision, 6 p.m. ET)
Francisco Javier López (Jaguares): vs. Chivas de Guadalajara – Saturday, Feb. 26 (ESPN Deportes, 6 p.m. ET)
Miguel Ángel Ponce (Chivas de Guadalajara): @ Jaguares – Saturday, Feb. 26 (ESPN Deportes, 6 p.m. ET)
MEXICAN LIGA DE ASCENSO
Marco Vidal (León): @ Dorados – Saturday, Feb. 26
Joe Corona (Tijuana): @ Lobos BUAP – Sunday, Feb. 27
Joaquín Alonso (Indios de Ciudad Juárez): @ Correcaminos – Friday, Feb. 25
Check out the Feb. 24 edition of the ExtraTime Radio podcast, featuring D.C. United's Charlie Davies, Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando and league executive Nelson Rodrigueztalking about the new playoff structure.
