Mexican Primera Division, Apertura Round 15: Group Two Battle Intensifies

This week’s round in the Mexican Primera Division doesn’t feature any true marquee matchups, but there is potential for plenty of upsets and results that have a serious effect on relegation and Liguilla battles.

The highlight of the round sees San Luis, the leaders of Group Two, traveling away to Toluca, who trail them by only one point. San Luis had their lead cut by fellow Group Two rivals Club America on Thursday, while Toluca played to a disappointing draw mid-week against Chivas de Guadalajara. Toluca certainly have the bigger name talents, but their aging players could have a tough time recovering from a mid-week fixture.

Necaxa and Atlante is not usually a match that fans circle on their calendars, but this time around it’s a bit of a relegation six pointer. Quaretaro currently sit at the bottom of the relegation table, but sitting just barely in front of them are Necaxa and Atlante. Both sides would like to expand their leads on Los Gallos Blancos and stay well clear of the drop. Necaxa have been much stronger at home than away and will be favorites against Atlante, despite the fine form of their striker Johan Fano.

In Nuevo Leon, Tigres de la U.A.N.L. and Jaguares de Chiapas, the current fourth and eighth placed teams in the overall table in Mexico, will fight for Ligulla positioning. Tigres are coming off two straight impressive wins over Pumas de la U.N.A.M. and Pachuca while Jaguares were very disappointing in a 0-0 home draw against Morelia. Youngster Jorge Daniel Hernandez started in place of either Carlos Ochoa or a midfielder, depending on how you want to look at it. That is unlikely to happen again and Tigres should see a tougher team than Morelia did.

Elsewhere in Mexico, that improving Morelia team faces Monterrey while Santos Laguna hosts Chivas in the division’s two other highly compelling matches. Morelia will be looking to get into a Liguilla spot, Monterrey will be looking to get back into the No. 1 seed, while a very similar dynamic exists between outsiders Chivas and Liguilla locks Santos.

The action starts with Cruz Azul vs. Puebla and Quaretaro vs. Pumas at 6pm ET.