Monterrey midfielder Carlos Rodríguez is hearing from European clubs. A good game in the Clásico Regio would enhance his résumé. (Photo by Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images)
Rayados renew rivalry with Tigres; Cementeros ‘host’ América
The Liga MX schedule presents two more Classics for Matchday 12, but not much else.
Monterrey will be the center of attention on Saturday night, while Mexico City’s Junior Classic brings down the curtain on Sunday night.
With the Guardianes 2020 headed for the far turn, these two Clásicos will have significant impact as all four teams are vying for a bye in the playoffs.
The Cruz Azul-América contest looks more attractive on paper as it provides a 1 vs 4 match-up, while up north Monterrey will host a No. 6 vs No. 7 clash.
However, the Clásico Regiomontano features the two most recent champions (Tigres – Clausura 2019; Monterrey – Apertura 2019) and the two Monterrey-based clubs have won eight of the past 21 Liga MX titles. Just three years ago, the Tigres defeated the Rayados in the Finals to claim the Apertura 2017 championship.
Monterrey rivals looking for momentum
The 123rd playing of the Clásico Regio kicks off Saturday night at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer could be seen as a must-win for both teams.
A glance at the standings reveals that the two rivals have a modest 17 points (with the Tigres in 6th place, ahead on goal differential) and are 5 points out of 4th place.
With only 15 points at stake after this weekend, falling 7 or 8 points off the pace might be a bridge too far as only the top four teams in the Liga MX standings get a playoff bye
Both teams enter the Clásico coming off a win, but the Tigres win over Querétaro was more impactful. Going into the game vs the Gallos, “Los incomparables” were entirely Gignac-dependent. The French striker – André-Pierre Gignac – had scored 8 of the club’s 14 goals on the season.
Coach “Tuca” Ferretti stuck mostly with his veterans, reluctant to trust his two newest offensive toys – Nicolás “Diente” López and Leo Fernández. He gave Leo – a 21-year-old playmaker who had starred while on loan to Toluca last season – some minutes, but just one start through 10 matches.
Against Querétaro, Leo played the entire 90 minutes for the first time and “Diente” came on at the half. The Tigres exploded for three goals in the final 40 minutes with “Diente” scoring twice, Leo assisting on his first. However, before clapping your hands in wonder, let’s remember that Querétaro was playing with 10 men since minute 29.
With winger Javier Aquino due to miss the match with an injury, one wonders if “Tuca” might consider turning to “Diente” to start. It’s unlikely since the two play different positions, but the prospect of an attack-minded line-up has Tigres fans purring with contentment.
The Liga MX schedule</a> presents two more Classics for Matchday 12, but not much else.</p>
<p>Monterrey will be the center of attention on Saturday night, while Mexico City’s Junior Classic brings down the curtain on Sunday night.</p>
<p>With the Guardianes 2020 headed for the far turn, these two <em>Clásicos</em> will have significant impact as all four teams are vying for a bye in the playoffs.</p>
<p>The Cruz Azul-América contest looks more attractive on paper as it provides a 1 vs 4 match-up, while up north Monterrey will host a No. 6 vs No. 7 clash.</p>
<p>However, the <em>Clásico Regiomontano</em> features the two most recent champions (Tigres – Clausura 2019; Monterrey – Apertura 2019) and the two Monterrey-based clubs have won eight of the past 21 Liga MX titles. Just three years ago, the Tigres defeated the Rayados in the Finals to claim the Apertura 2017 championship.</p>
<h2>Monterrey rivals looking for momentum</h2>
<p>The 123rd playing of the <strong>Clásico Regio</strong> kicks off Saturday night at the Estadio BBVA Bancomer could be seen as a must-win for both teams.</p>
<p>A glance at <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"http://ligamx.net/cancha/tablas/tablaGeneralClasificacion/sp/8934b8c89a62e0">the standings</a> reveals that the two rivals have a modest 17 points (with the Tigres in 6th place, ahead on goal differential) and are 5 points out of 4th place.</p>
<p>With only 15 points at stake after this weekend, falling 7 or 8 points off the pace might be a bridge too far as only the top four teams in the Liga MX standings get a playoff bye</p>
<p>Both teams enter the <em>Clásico</em> coming off a win, but <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"https://www.tudn.com/futbol/liga-mx/resumen-tigres-3-0-queretaro-los-felinos-despluman-tres-veces-a-los-gallos-video">the Tigres win over Querétaro</a> was more impactful. Going into the game vs the Gallos, <em>“Los incomparables”</em> were entirely Gignac-dependent. The French striker – André-Pierre Gignac – had scored 8 of the club’s 14 goals on the season.</p>
<p>Coach “Tuca” Ferretti stuck mostly with his veterans, reluctant to trust his two newest offensive toys – Nicolás “Diente” López and Leo Fernández. He gave Leo – a 21-year-old playmaker who had starred while on loan to Toluca last season – some minutes, but just one start through 10 matches.</p>
<p>Against Querétaro, Leo played the entire 90 minutes for the first time and “Diente” came on at the half. The Tigres exploded for three goals in the final 40 minutes with “Diente” scoring twice, Leo assisting on his first. However, before clapping your hands in wonder, let’s remember that Querétaro was playing with 10 men since minute 29.</p>
<p>With winger Javier Aquino due to miss the match with an injury, one wonders if “Tuca” might consider turning to “Diente” to start. It’s unlikely since the two play different positions, but the prospect of an attack-minded line-up has Tigres fans purring with contentment.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Disgruntled Tigres, healing Rayados </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-484748" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1273566773-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX Clasico Regio" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Leo Fernández seems to be winning the confidence of coach “Tuca” Ferretti. (Photo by Azael Rodriguez/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Pair of veterans bristle over benching</h3>
<p>The Tigres now have a “morale” problem as Edu Vargas and Luis Quiñones resent being benched in favor of “Diente” and Leo. Even though the team’s lack of production left “Tuca” with no choice but to tinker in search of a better offensive alignment, the two veterans feel as though they were made to appear as the problem.</p>
<p>There are now growing rumors that both players want to be traded. Quiñones would evidently accept a return to Toluca, while Vargas continues to hear siren songs from Brazil.</p>
<p>Across town, the Rayados head into the <em>Clásico Regiomontano</em> off a victory that ended a three-game winless streak. No matter that it was an unimpressive win against one of the worst teams in Liga MX. A win is a win, I suppose.</p>
<p>In addition, central defender César Montes will miss the match with a red-card suspension. The Rayados filed an appeal (the second yellow appeared dubious), but it was turned down.</p>
<p>That blow will be lessened if Stefan Medina is deemed fully fit. The Colombian defender missed the past two games but was back to full training on Monday. He can slot in alongside Nico Sánchez and Miguel Layún can stay at right back.</p>
<p>Captain Dorlan Pabón is also dealing with knocks but he will be available on Saturday, though coach Antonio Mohamed might elect to stick with Ake Loba and Rogelio Funes Mori in attack with Maxi Meza taking up the role Pabón often plays. But the skipper should be ready to come in late to deliver his trademark crosses if called upon.</p>
<p>One battle to keep an eye on will be on the flank where Tigres right back Luis “Chaka” Rodríguez will face Rayados winger/left back Jesús Gallardo. The two spent this past week together in the El Tri training camp.</p>
<p>Midfield will also be a contact zone. The Tigres’ double pivot of Guido Pizarro and Rafa Carioca will have their hands full with Charlie Rodríguez, Meza and Gallardo. The Rayados’ trident will be tasked with feeding Funes Mori and Loba while Pizarro and Carioca form a shield in front of the Tigres’ back line.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> ‘Clásico Joven’ in Azteca </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-479854" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1212650070-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX Clasico Regio" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Cruz Azul keeper Jesús Corona blocks Ema Aguilera’s penalty kick in the final game of the Clausura 2020 season. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Cruz Azul aims to stay on top of Liga MX table</h3>
<p>América faces another <em>Clásico</em>, the second of three straight on the schedule. <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/21/liga-mx-highlights-clasico/">After holding off Guadalajara</a> to win the <em>Super Clásico</em>, the Aguilas take on league-leading Cruz Azul in the so-called “Junior Classic.” The Mexico City Classic (vs Pumas) follows next weekend.</p>
<p>Since Robert Dante Siboldi took over as coach of Cruz Azul, the Cementeros have won three straight Junior Classics – two Liga MX matches, and a 4-1 win in the preseason Copa GNP in July.</p>
<p>Their most recent official match ended with a penalty kick save by Jesús Corona that preserved a 1-0 win for Cruz Azul. That game was the final contest of the aborted Clausura 2020 which ended with the Cementeros on top of the leaderboard.</p>
<p>Aguilas coach Miguel Herrera has earned the moniker of King of the Classics during his two terms at América (2012-13, and since 2017). He now has more wins (23) in Clásicos than any other América coach in the club’s storied history. Of the three Classics, Cruz Azul has proven to be his most difficult rival.</p>
<p>América is 6-8-4 against the Cementeros with Herrera on the sidelines. “El Piojo” has a 7-2-2 record against the Chivas as coach of the Aguilas and against the Pumas (the <em>“Clásico Capitalino”</em>) he is 10-5-1.</p>
<p>Still, “El Piojo” can point to the two Liga MX trophies he has won. In both the Clausura 2013 and the Apertura 2018, América defeated Cruz Azul in the Final. He also knocked the Cementeros out of the playoffs in the Clausura 2019 quarterfinals. So he has bragging rights in games that count.</p>
<p>Cruz Azul will fall out of first place if “visiting” América wins. Both Mexico City clubs play at Estadio Azteca, but Sunday’s tilt counts as a home game for the Cementeros who are a perfect 5-0-0 at home this season.</p>
<p>Elsewhere in Week 12, the Pumas look certain to bounce back from <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_9Lgcm3KT4%22>their first Liga MX loss of the season</a> when they host nose-diving Necaxa. The Rayos have lost five in a row and are winless on the road. UNAM, on the other hand, is 4-2-0 at the CU.</p>
<p>Up north, Santos will be unable to build on the momentum of its first road win of the season (at Toluca) since their opponent – Xolos of Tijuana – is quarantined after a Covid-19 outbreak. The two will make up their game on Oct. 11.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> More turmoil for Chivas </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-484747" src=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1177939390-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX Clasico Regio" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">The Chivas are having another tough season. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Guadalajara forced to defend <em>Super Clásico</em> fraternization</h3>
<p>The Chivas had won two straight on the road before getting stymied by América at Estadio Azteca on Saturday night. A bitter loss against their most-hated rival and the sixth time they’ve been blanked in 11 games, tops in Liga MX.</p>
<p>They were also left to deal with considerable fall-out from post-game images showing Chivas players sharing laughs with Aguilas players on the pitch after the loss. The criticism focused specifically on Oribe Peralta, a late-game sub who came to Guadalajara from América where he played for five years.</p>
<p>Management claimed to have no problem with Oribe’s actions, saying the interaction with the club’s bitter rivals was “in the spirit of healthy competition and good sportsmanship.” This is a far cry from the early days of the Jorge Vergara era.</p>
<p>Vergara – father of current team president Amaury Vergara, and Guadalajara’s majority owner from 2002 until his death last November – worked to ratchet up the best rivalry Liga MX has to offer. He issued an edict forbidding jersey exchanges with América players and announced the club would never sign anyone who ever played with the Aguilas.</p>
<p>Former Chivas players freely criticized the post-game, on-field actions of Oribe (and Uriel Antuna), using terms like “shameful,” “team pride,” “respect for the fans” and “defending the colors.”</p>
<p>On Monday, Isaac Brizuela told reporters the team had addressed the issue in the locker room, emphasizing that players should be mindful of appearances. He said Oribe’s actions did not offend his teammates, but everyone understood why fans of <em>“El Rebaño Sagrado”</em> would be upset.</p>
<p>My take? Much ado about nothing. Only four players on the Chivas roster are home-grown products and only two Aguilas came out of their academy. The rivalry is not the same when players don’t come up through the system hating their <em>Super Clásico</em> rivals.</p>
<p>I understand that seeing members of your team laughing it up with opponents after losing a derby can be aggravating, but sportsmanship is a positive value.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Week 11 Power Rankings" data-url="https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/24/leon-moves-liga-mx-power-rankings/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/26/clasico-regio-highlights-liga-mx-12/"https://playingfor90.com/2020/09/24/leon-moves-liga-mx-power-rankings/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Week 11 Power Rankings </a> </div>
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<p>Then again, the advice of former El Tri goalie Oswaldo Sánchez (who played for both clubs) is worth considering: “I showed my respect to the fans by greeting my friends (on the other team) in the tunnel before or after the match.”</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">