By DANIEL PRICE
After Wednesday evening’s thrilling 2-2 draw between Mexico and the USA, players return to their clubs this weekend to compete in Week 14 of the Liga MX. There are just four games remaining, and the battle for both playoff places and top flight survival appears to be going to the wire.
With just four points separating third and fourteenth, there are exciting matchups across the league – but the standout fixture is arguably Club America hosting league leaders Cruz Azul.
The game marks a repeat of the 2013 Clausura final, though this time the roles are reversed – Cruz Azul are now Mexico’s most dominant side and Las Aguilas fighting to stay in the top eight. Although America head into the weekend in fourth place, defeat could see them drop as low as tenth.
Cruz Azul dropped their first home points of the season last weekend to relegation threatened Atlas, and a second successive defeat in the Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night should mean they are hungry to return to winning ways this weekend.
Elsewhere, Monterrey host Santos Laguna hoping to ignite a late charge into the Liguilla, Club Tijuana will try to maintain their scintillating home form when they play second-placed Toluca, and Club Leon will need to beat Queretaro to ensure they stay close to the top eight and earn the chance to defend their title.
Here’s a full rundown of this weekend’s schedule in Liga MX, complete with TV listings (Please note that Mexico adjusts its clocks for Daylight Savings Time at 2am on Sunday morning):
FRIDAY
10pm – Morelia vs. Veracruz – Azteca America/ESPN Deportes
10:30pm – Club Tijuana vs. Toluca – ESPN Deportes/Azteca America (on tape delay beginning at 12am)
SATURDAY
7pm – Club America vs. Cruz Azul – Univision Deportes/Univision
9pm – Pachuca vs. Chivas de Guadalajara – UniMás
9pm – Monterrey vs. Santos Laguna – Univision Deportes
10:05pm – Club Leon vs. Queretaro – Telemundo
11pm – Atlas vs. Puebla – Univision Deportes
SUNDAY
1pm – Pumas UNAM vs. Chiapas – Univision Deportes/Univision
6pm – Atlante vs. Tigres UANL – Univision Deportes