By DANIEL PRICE
Round four of the Liga MX promises to start sorting the potential challengers from the perennial also-rans, as the table begins to provide clues into who are the strongest and weakest sides in this edition of the Clausura.
The weekend’s action kicks off on Friday evening in the Estadio Corregidora, where Querétaro host Santos Laguna in a repeat of last season’s Liguilla quarterfinal.
Los Gallos Blancos were the season’s early pacesetters, but after being comprehensively beaten 3-1 by Monterrey last weekend they were again humbled in their midweek game, losing 1-0 at home to Liga Ascenso side Celaya. If they are serious about challenging for honours it’s important that they bounce back with a win, and fans will be hoping that new signing Camilo Sanvezzo, who was recently acquired from MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps, will provide them with required impetus to fire them to victory.
Santos, meanwhile, have been underwhelming so far this season and find themselves in 14th place in table with only two points. The Torreon side are yet to click in 2014 and desperately need to come away with the three points to kick-start their campaign, especially if they have ambitions of qualifying for the post-season. Eyes will be on Oribe Peralta to see if he can rediscover his scoring touch and help Los Guerreros move up the table.
Elsewhere, Club Tijuana host Morelia and Monterrey travel to league leaders Toluca, before the weekend’s schedule concludes with the much improved Chivas de Guadalajara trying to continue their renaissance when they visit relegation-threatened Atlante.
Here’s a full rundown of this weekend’s schedule in Liga MX, complete with TV listings:
FRIDAY
8:30pm – Querétaro vs. Santos Laguna – Azteca America/ESPN Deportes
10pm – Club Tijuana vs. Morelia – Azteca America/ESPN Deportes
SATURDAY
6pm – Cruz Azul vs. Veracruz – UniMás/Univision Deportes
8pm – Tigres UANL vs. Pumas UNAM – UniMás/Univision Deportes
9:05pm – Club León vs. Pachuca – Telemundo
10pm – Atlas vs. Club America – Univision Deportes
SUNDAY
1pm – Puebla vs. Chiapas – Azteca America/ESPN Deportes
1pm – Toluca vs. Monterrey – Univision Deportes/Univision
6pm – Atlante vs. Chivas de Guadalajara – Univision Deportes