It’s the final week of the Mexican Primera Division’s 2011 Apertura, and there’s still plenty to play for. Mathematically, top side Chivas Guadalajara is the only team locked into their Liguilla place. Save for some absolutely unthinkable shenanigans, Jaguares Chiapas and Cruz Azul are both in as well. This leaves five Liguilla spots in doubt, with the fourth and fifth placed teams with a bit of a cushion. It’s possible for every game to have serious Liguilla implications.
Mexican Primera 2011 Apertura, Week 17 Preview And Schedule: Five Liguilla Spots Still Up For Grabs
Humberto Suazo is questionable for a must-win game for Monterrey. Elsewhere, America and Cruz Azul play a clasico while Morelia and Jaguares play a crucial match on Friday night.
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Also, these games have Copa Libertadores implications. In the Apertura, the three best placed teams who are not involved in the CONCACAF Champions League knockout stages qualify for South America's premier competition. Thanks to the big-time television money that goes along with having Mexican teams involved, the Copa Libertadores extends an invite to Primera sides, allowing them to play in two continental competitions. This season, none of the current top three are still in CCL, and if those positions hold, Mexico will be sending their three highest finishing teams to Copa Libertadores.
Monarcas Morelia (8th) Vs. Jaguares Chiapas (2nd)
Friday, 10:00 pm ET
TV: FOX Deportes, Azteca America
On Tuesday, Morelia played Santos Laguna in the resumption of their earlier fixture that was abandoned due to gunfire outside of the stadium. In the shortened 50 minute match, resumed from when it was 0-0 at the time of the shooting, Morelia snatched a 2-0 win, putting them into the final Liguilla place.
While Jaguares are effectively locked into Liguilla, they still have a ton to play for. Their Copa Libertadores place is not locked in, and they need three points to seal it and one point to put them in a good position to keep it. After their fantastic run last season that included an all-time classic against Atletico Junior, Profe Cruz will probably welcome a return trip.
With the number of teams behind them, it’s likely that only a win will keep Morelia in Liguilla. They’ve been poor at home over the last couple of seasons and they also play a more conservative style than most teams in Mexico, so it will be interesting to see how they play.
Pick: 1-1 draw
Cruz Azul (3rd) vs. Club America (17th)
Saturday, 7:00 pm ET
TV: FOX Deportes, Azteca America
Club America don’t have anything to play for in this one but pride, but that should be enough to motivate them. While this isn’t the Super Clasico, Cruz Azul-America is an important and seriously heated clasico, and both teams should be up for it.
Cruz Azul have struggled to score this season, but their much improved defense has them in a Copa Libertadores spot and firmly in Liguilla. America's poor defense could be the cure for their scoring woes, and a win will send them to the South American continental championship.
Pick: 2-1 Cruz Azul
Monterrey (11th) vs. Atlante (14th)
Saturday, 7:00 pm ET
TV: Telemundo
Incredibly, Monterrey manager Victor Manuel Vucetich could be facing a must-win situation to save his job on Saturday. The most successful manager in the history of the Rayados has had to deal with injuries and international call-ups during this season, but with the talent and wages spent on forward players, Monterrey’s lack of a potent attack is simply inexcusable, and the blame must fall on the manager.
To qualify for Liguilla, the North American continental champions need to win and hope Morelia, Puebla and Queretaro don’t. There are a few convoluted scenarios that could give them a surprise place, but a Morelia loss on Friday night, draws or losses for the other two teams above them, and a win over Atlante is the simplest way into the playoffs.
Atlante are now mathematically out of Liguilla, an incredible disappointment. After their Apertura 2007 title and 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League title, Atlante suffered through a terrible period of disappointment and squads lacking in talent before making Liguilla in the Clausura 2011. They appeared to strengthen in the offseason, but have instead gone backwards, and there will be changes over the winter.
Monterrey are missing Ricardo Osorio and Aldo de Nigris for the game, while Luis Ernesto Perez and Humberto Suazo are both questionable. It may take a minor miracle for them to find their way into Liguilla.
Pick: 1-1 draw
Queretaro (9th) vs. Estudiantes Tecos (15th)
Saturday, 7:00 pm ET
TV: Telefutura
Queretaro do not control their own destiny in Liguilla, but a win will more likely than not be enough to get them into the tournament, given the high volume of teams who are one or two points ahead of them. Tecos are out, but they have plenty to play for. Despite Queretaro’s positioning, their poor performances in previous tournaments have them battling relegation, along with Tecos. For both teams, every point counts in this tournament and the next, whether they’re locked into Liguilla or out of the race.
Pick: 2-2 draw
Chivas Guadalajara (1st) vs. Pachuca (5th)
Saturday, 9:00 pm ET
TV: Telemundo
Pachuca should be able to finish in Liguilla, but with two teams outside of the playoffs just two points behind them, Pachuca will feel like they have to go get a point on the road to secure their position. Chivas are locked into both Liguilla and Copa Libertadores, while the tight nature of the tournament means that there won’t be much of an advantage for the top seed over second, third or fourth. Chivas will not play a reserve side and will play to win, but expect to see the likes of Carlos Fierro and other youngsters get some playing time.
Pick: 1-1 draw
Santos Laguna (6th) vs. Atlas (18th)
Saturday, 9:00 pm ET
TV: Telefutura
Santos Laguna were top at one point, but they were screwed over by a pointless, fake tournament. Their best striker, Oribe Peralta, was pulled away from them for the Pan-American Games, and the Saints struggled in his absence. Regardless of how you feel about national pride, pulling full international away from competitive club games for an under-23 tournament that no one outside of Mexico cared about is absolute nonsense.
in any event, Peralta was back mid-week against Morelia and failed to score in a loss. Santos now needs a win to secure a Liguilla place, and they should be able to get it at home against Atlas. Atlas are a bad team.
Pick: 3-0 Santos
San Luis (12th) vs. Toluca (13th)
Saturday, 10:45 pm ET
TV: Telefutura
This game could have huge Liguilla implications, or it could not matter at all. If either team is able to give three points, they could theoretically be up in a Liguilla place. They play so late that they will know when this game kicks off if it is meaningless or if it is a must-win encounter. Since we have no idea whether or not this game is relevant, writing a lot about it doesn’t make much sense.
To be honest, neither of these teams plays entertaining football and Liguilla probably won’t miss them.
Pick: Meh
Puebla (10th) vs. UANL Tigres (4th)
Sunday, 1:00 pm ET
TV: Azteca America
Like San Luis-Toluca, this game could be huge or meaningless. The best case scenario for this game is that one of the second or third placed teams draws while Morelia and Queretaro lose or draw, meaning both teams will want to go play for a win. More likely than not, neither of these things will happen and you’ll end up watching the throwball.
Pick: Who knows? If meaningful for both teams, 1-1 draw
UNAM Pumas (7th) vs. Club Tijuana (16th)
Sunday, 1:00 pm ET
TV: Telemundo
If things get sufficiently mixed up on Saturday, Pumas could enter Sunday out of a Liguilla place, needing points to get themselves back in the playoffs. Tijuana are poor on the road, but in the race to avoid relegation, every game has to be treated like a playoff game for the Xolos. More likely than not both teams will play their first teams and will be playing their hardest, feeling like they need points. Expect fun.
Pick: 2-1 Pumas
For more on Jornada 17 of the 2011 Apertura, the Mexican Primera and Mexican football in general, check out SB Nation’s Mexican futbol blog FMF State Of Mind.
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