Liga MX returns Friday July 21st with the Torneo Apertura. Known as the opening tournament, the Apertura is the Mexican top-flight soccer league’s first half of the season; which crowns a champion in December.
Liga MX’s week 1 will be highlighted by reigning Apertura winners Tigres clashing with Puebla. Nine matches will be played during week 1, so let’s look at the key match ups that will go down south of the border.
Tijuana vs. Cruz Azul
Tijuana topped the Apertura table at the end of the regular season in 2016-17, but was unable to make it through the eight team playoff to capture the Liga MX title. With the season kicking off, it is hard to say whether Cruz Azul will better than the team’s 14th place finish in last year’s Apertura.
Tijuana was the class of the Mexican soccer league last season, and performed well in the Torneo Clausura, too. The club was in first place for 12 of the 17 weeks in last season’s autumn competition.
The only problem is, the club is now without last year’s leading goal scorer Dayro Moreno (11) and top assists man Milton Caraglio (five) – who signed for rivals Atlas.
Zcode System’s scores predictor has Tijuana winning this fixture 3-1. The team was great last season, and I believe this will be a win for La Jauria, even without Moreno.
Tigres vs. Puebla
Last season’s Apertura playoff championship winners, Tigres, will host Puebla on Saturday. Tigres stormed through the Liga MX playoffs last December after a third place finish in the regular season. Tigres has a stacked roster of high-quality players including Frenchman Andre-Pierre Gignac, Eduardo Vargas and the team goals leader in last season’s Apertura, Ismail Sosa (seven). Gignac is the team’s main striker with 53 goals in 81 career games with Tigres. He may not be with the team after August, as teams around the world want to sign him. But for now, he should knock in the goals for Tigres.
Tigres is heavy favorites for Saturday’s fixture and Zcode Systems scores predictor has the team winning 3-0. Based on performances last season by both clubs, and Tigres’ firepower, I agree with this scoreline.
Club America vs. Queretaro
Mexico’s most popular team, Club America, host Queretaro on Saturday evening. America is heavily favored by bookies. Striker Silvio Romero returns this season after netting 10 goals in last season’s Liga MX Apertura.
America is favored by four goals according to Zcode Systems score predictor. That seems a little high, but in the first match of the season, anything can happen.
Chivas Guadalajara vs. Toluca
Chivas finished last season’s Clausura as champions, defeating Tigres, who just missed out on completing a Mexican league double. Chivas is one of the highest ranked Mexican teams in Zcode System’s power rankings.
The team is returning several key Mexican stars to its roster. Edwin Hernandez led the team with five assists in last season’s Apertura and will be key in breaking down defenses.
Defenders Carlos Salcido and Jair Pereira helped the club concede just 18 goals in 2016. Despite Chivas being favored at home by sportsbooks, Toluca may give them some trouble.
Week 1 of the Liga MX Apertura will be another exciting weekend of Mexican soccer action as teams target the torneo’s championship.
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