Holders Cruz Azul are chasing a playoff spot while América sits atop the Liga MX table. This season’s “Junior Classic” promises to be explosive. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images)
League-leading América must shake off the disappointment of its loss in the ConcaChampions Final because defending Liga MX champs Cruz Azul are eager to deepen the Aguilas’ misery.
América coach Santiago Solari is under pressure despite already securing the No. 1 seed throughout the Liga MX playoffs because Aguilas fans and the front office demand hardware. So far, the Argentine manager is 0-2, and failure to hoist the trophy this season could earn him a pink slip.
Holders Cruz Azul, meanwhile, are still scrambling to secure a playoff berth. A loss at home to their bitter rivals on Sunday could see the Cementeros chasing a wildcard spot in their season finale against the suddenly red-hot Pumas.
The Pumas’ three-game win streak has them dreaming of the post-season after slumming in the Liga MX basement most of the season, and a win against Pachuca tonight could set up a win-or-go-home scenario next Sunday at the CU for both UNAM and Cruz Azul.
Liga MX champs need win desperately
Cruz Azul has been adrift in the middle of the table most of the Apertura 2021, battling injuries and fatigue most of the campaign. Captain Jesús Corona broke a finger in training camp and missed the first eight games and though back-up goalies Sebastián Jurado and Andrés Gudiño played well, neither made the game-saving block that had become Corona’s trademark.
The result is a 4-8-2 record, and if just two of those eight ties had been victories, the Cementeros would be in third place. But top scorer Jonathan Rodríguez has too often been off the mark and midfield stalwarts Orbelín Pineda and Luis Romo have missed time due to national team obligations.
“La Máquina” has been anything but, too often sputtering on offense and occasionally looking confused at the back as coach Juan Reynoso’s rotation scheme has not been effective as it was last season.
With three games remaining (their Matchday 11 contest against León will be made up on Nov. 3), the Cementeros do not have to scoreboard-watch. Simply taking care of business could still be enough to snare a Top 4 seed and a first-round bye in the Liga MX playoffs.
América comes into the “Clásico Joven” licking its wounds, both emotional and physical. Midfielder Richard Sánchez left the CCL Final with a leg injury and is ruled out for Sunday’s contest. Pedro Aquino missed out on the Final with a thigh strain might be available for the “Junior Classic.” If “The Rock” misses out, the Cementeros should have a distinct advantage in the middle of the field.
The absence of winger Mauro Lainez is also a problem for Solari (he has had to rely on converted left back Salvador Reyes with mixed results) as are fitness issues among his back-liners. Bruno Valdez and Emanuel Aguilera have missed time this season though Valdez was back on the pitch (though less than 100 percent) against Monterrey on Thursday night.
loss in the ConcaChampions Final</a> because defending Liga MX champs Cruz Azul are eager to deepen the Aguilas’ misery.</p>
<p>América coach Santiago Solari is under pressure despite already securing the No. 1 seed throughout the Liga MX playoffs because Aguilas fans and the front office demand hardware. So far, the Argentine manager is 0-2, and failure to hoist the trophy this season could earn him a pink slip.</p>
<p>Holders Cruz Azul, meanwhile, are still scrambling to secure a playoff berth. A loss at home to their bitter rivals on Sunday could see the Cementeros chasing a wildcard spot in their season finale against the suddenly red-hot Pumas.</p>
<p>The Pumas’ three-game win streak has them dreaming of the post-season after slumming in the Liga MX basement most of the season, and a win against Pachuca tonight could set up a win-or-go-home scenario next Sunday at the CU for both UNAM and Cruz Azul.</p>
<h2>Liga MX champs need win desperately</h2>
<p>Cruz Azul has been adrift in the middle of the table most of the Apertura 2021, battling injuries and fatigue most of the campaign. Captain Jesús Corona broke a finger in training camp and missed the first eight games and though back-up goalies Sebastián Jurado and Andrés Gudiño played well, neither made the game-saving block that had become Corona’s trademark.</p>
<p>The result is a 4-8-2 record, and if just two of those eight ties had been victories, the Cementeros would be in third place. But top scorer Jonathan Rodríguez has too often been off the mark and midfield stalwarts Orbelín Pineda and Luis Romo have missed time due to national team obligations.</p>
<p><em>“La Máquina”</em> has been anything but, too often sputtering on offense and occasionally looking confused at the back as coach Juan Reynoso’s rotation scheme has not been effective as it was last season.</p>
<p>With three games remaining (their Matchday 11 contest against León will be made up on Nov. 3), the Cementeros do not have to scoreboard-watch. Simply taking care of business could still be enough to snare a Top 4 seed and a first-round bye in the Liga MX playoffs.</p>
<p>América comes into the <em>“Clásico Joven”</em> licking its wounds, both emotional and physical. Midfielder Richard Sánchez left the CCL Final with a leg injury and is ruled out for Sunday’s contest. Pedro Aquino missed out on the Final with a thigh strain might be available for the <em>“Junior Classic.”</em> If “The Rock” misses out, the Cementeros should have a distinct advantage in the middle of the field.</p>
<p>The absence of winger Mauro Lainez is also a problem for Solari (he has had to rely on converted left back Salvador Reyes with mixed results) as are fitness issues among his back-liners. Bruno Valdez and Emanuel Aguilera have missed time this season though Valdez was back on the pitch (though less than 100 percent) against Monterrey on Thursday night.</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/2021/10/30/liga-mx-leaders-face-reigning-champs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Now or never for Cruz Azul </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-489356" src=https://playingfor90.com/2021/10/30/liga-mx-leaders-face-reigning-champs/"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%2F2017%2F07%2F1344101227-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX Cruz Azul America" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Cruz Azul fans are hoping their heroes can knock out their bitterest rivals, América, in a critical Liga MX Matchday 16 contest. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Recent history favors Cementeros in <em>‘Junior Classic’</em></h3>
<p>The champs have their backs against the wall. If they can’t rediscover their form of last season, they could miss out on the playoffs altogether.</p>
<p>It won’t be easy. Up first is América and the Aguilas have sat atop the Liga MX table since Matchday 4. León comes calling on Wednesday and the Esmeraldas are 2 points better than Cruz Azul as I write this. The Cementeros’ season finale is at UNAM and the Pumas are among the hottest teams in Liga MX right now.</p>
<p>Cruz Azul controls its own fate, but <em>“The Blue Machine”</em> must take it one game at a time. That means focusing only on the <em>“Clásico Joven.”</em></p>
<p>The Cementeros hold a 3-2-0 advantage over América in the past five <em>“Junior Classics.”</em> The Cementeros <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/10/30/liga-mx-leaders-face-reigning-champs/"https://www.record.com.mx/futbol-liga-mx-america-cruz-azul/cruz-azul-con-dominio-sobre-america-desde-su-regreso-al-estadio">have not lost to the Aguilas since May 19, 2019</a>, and that mini-streak includes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/10/30/liga-mx-leaders-face-reigning-champs/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2zn-_REXhY%22>a 5-2 shellacking</a> after which then-América coach Miguel Herrera was hit with a multi-game suspension for a post-game rant littered with homophobic insults targeting the ref.</p>
<p>The Aguilas led that Oct. 5, 2019, match 2-1 at the half before getting overrun by a rampant Cementeros side.</p>
<p>Even if Cruz Azul extends this mini-streak of success, it won’t erase the sting of losing Finals to América the last two times a <em>“Clásico Joven”</em> took place in the Liga MX Final (Apertura 2018 and Clausura 2013).</p>
<p>América does boast an advantage in their <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/10/30/liga-mx-leaders-face-reigning-champs/"https://www.vivoelfutbol.com.mx/juego.php?eq1=5&eq2=1%22>head-to-head match-ups overall</a>. The Aguilas have won 26, lost 18 and there have been 22 draws.</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/2021/10/30/liga-mx-leaders-face-reigning-champs/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Cementeros’ have roster concerns </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-489357" src=https://playingfor90.com/2021/10/30/liga-mx-leaders-face-reigning-champs/"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%2F2017%2F07%2F1228759889-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga Mx Junior Classic AP21" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Orbelin Pineda (center) is playing in one of his final few games with Cruz Azul. The midfielder is headed to Spain’s La Liga in December. (Photo by CLAUDIO CRUZ/AFP via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Cruz Azul could be facing a rebuild next season</h3>
<p>Orbelín Pineda’s departure on a free has Cruz Azul management peeved since the playmaking midfielder did not allow the club to get anything in return.</p>
<p>The Cementeros front office insists it would not have stood in the way of Pineda’s dream to play in Europe as it sought to renew his contract over the summer, a transaction that would have brought economic benefits to La Noria in any eventual transfer deal.</p>
<p>Team executive Víctor Velázquez thinks “The Little Magician” had brokered an arrangement with La Liga’s Celta de Vigo months ago, so was unwilling to continue talks with Cruz Azul. Instead, he preferred to allow his contract to expire and facilitate the free move to the Spanish club, leaving the Cementeros empty-handed.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Cruz Azul has similar concerns with regard to midfield stud Luis Romo and Peru international Yoshimar Yotún, both of whom are out of contract in December.</p>
<p>The front office has been unable to negotiate new deals with either player, both of whom are eager to play across the pond as soon as possible. That means three key cogs in <em>“The Blue Machine”</em> could be walking out the door after the season without any financial compensation.</p>
<p>The economic mess in the Cementeros’ accounts can be traced to the crisis caused by former team president Guillermo Álvarez. The long-time club executive has been a fugitive since federal authorities last year began investigating accusations of embezzlement and money-laundering.</p>
<p>With three big names on the verge of departing and no starlets in the academy system, Cruz Azul fans could be staring at some bleak seasons on the horizon.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">