From the top position to 14th place in the Mexican Primera table, there is a mere six points of separation. The distance between that 14th place team, Monarcas Morelia and a Liguilla place is two points. With five matches remaining in the 2011 Apertura, absolutely nothing is set in stone. In a matter of three weeks, Morelia and first placed UANL Tigres could very easily swap spots, especially since they play a very odd 1st-14th place Liguilla six pointer on Friday.
Mexican Primera 2011 Apertura, Week 13 Preview And Schedule: Morelia Hosts Tigres, Santos Loses Oribe Peralta
Monarcas Morelia is in desperate need of points against first placed UANL Tigres, while Santos Laguna must carry on with Oribe Peralta away on faux international duty.
Monarcas Morelia vs. UANL Tigres
Friday, 7:00 pm ET
TV: Azteca America, FOX Deportes
I just learned that I get FOX Deportes with my new television package, which is the greatest news ever. Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve been watching Copa Libertadores on bootleg streams for five years. Anyway, Morelia can go a long way towards getting back into Liguilla places just by getting a home draw against Mexico’s current table toppers, though that’s going to be a tall order.
Tigres are coming off of a 4-1 thumping of their university/feline rivals Pumas, and look like the best team in Mexico at present. Hector Raul Mancilla and Lucas Lobos are a deadly combination up top, while Danilinho is currently providing them assists for fun. Meanwhile, the two best players from Morelia's run to the Liguilla final last season are currently ripping it up for other teams while the Canaries ask Miguel Sabah to put the team on his back.
Morelia’s defense will keep this interesting at home, but it’s tough to see them scoring unless Juninho gets caught on one of his ridiculous forward runs from the back.
Pick: Morelia 0-1 Tigres
Jaguares Chiapas vs. Atlante
Saturday, 6:00 pm ET
TV: Azteca America, ESPN Deportes
After a miserable start to the 2011 Apertura, Atlante have climbed up to 11th in the table. Their defense is surprisingly holding up, while ‘Hobbit’ Christian Bermudez continues to be one of the league’s best players. They’re going to struggle to get points on Saturday, though, when they travel away to Chiapas.
Jaguares haven’t won in their last three matches, causing them to fall from first to sixth place in the table, but they’ll still be favorites against Atlante at home. Unfortunately, if they do win, they’re going to have to do it without the suspended Oscar Razo, who was sent off in their loss to Pachuca.
Luis Rey is doing plenty of scoring, but Colombian stars Jackson Martinez and Franco Arizala are ice cold right now. If they can get back to scoring goals, Jaguares are a lethal team.
Pick: Jaguares 2-1 Atlante
Santos Laguna vs. Toluca
Saturday, 8:00 pm ET
TV: Telefutura
I feel the need to preface the following statement by saying I have absolutely no bias for or against Santos Laguna and that I am a complete neutral when it comes to their successes or lack thereof.
Benjamin Galindo has done a complete turnaround with Santos, taking them from well outside a Liguilla place to second in the table. Much of this has been on the back of star striker Oribe Peralta, who is currently out-performing the man he replaced in the lineup, Club America's $10 million striker Christian Benitez. Peralta will not be available for this game.
He’s not injured or suspended, nor is he playing competitive senior national team fixtures. Instead, Peralta is one of three overage players taken with Mexico’s U-22 squad to the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara. If Santos manages to lose without scoring at home, doesn’t it seem like the kind of thing that could just throw off their momentum and absolutely derail their season?
The good news for them is that Toluca is currently one of the most boring teams in world football, relying on a 35-year-old No. 10 and an often isolated Ivan Alonso to do all of their attacking. This result seems fairly predictable.
Pick: Santos 0-0 Toluca
Other matches
Monterrey vs. Club America - Saturday, 6:00 pm ET
Chivas Guadalajara vs. Estudiantes Tecos (technically, a Clasico!) - Saturday, 6:00 pm ET
Club Tijuana vs. Pachuca - 8:00 pm ET
San Luis vs. Cruz Azul - Saturday, 9:45 pm ET
Puebla vs. Queretaro - Sunday, 1:00 pm ET
UNAM Pumas vs. Atlas - Sunday, 1:00 pm ET
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