Liga MX Matchday 5 could allow three of the top five teams to separate from the pack, while also giving us a top five matchup.

Friday:

Two Teams Desperate For Points

The weekend opens with Queretaro hosting Veracruz with both teams looking for a win. Between the two teams they’ve combined for only one win and that was Queretaro beating Dorados, who have been terrible so far this season. While they’re tied on points, Veracruz has looked stronger over the course of the first four games. They’ve struggled with closing out matches and putting a whole game together, which explains why they’ve drawn three of their first four games. Queretaro will need to take advantage of playing at home, but so far they’ve struggled to create chances and have been shutout in two of the four games they’ve played in. While Queretaro are playing at home, this could be the match that Veracruz could put it together and get their first win.

Cats Do Battle Down South

Part of what has given Chiapas success over the last few seasons is taking advantage of getting wins and points at home. Friday night, that task will be daunting as defending champions Tigres make the way into south Mexico for a feline matchup. While Tigres have dropped some points that some wouldn’t expect them to, they looked their best last week by dismantling Leon. Look for Tigres to take that momentum into this weekend’s match and roll over Chiapas.

Cruz Azul Look To Build Off Last Week

After getting their first home win last week, Cruz Azul now look to get their first away victory against Tijuana. The Blue Machine were finally able to put in a good performance last week when they comeback from a goal down to flip the script with a man down and win 2-1. Now it’s important for them to take advantage of a Tijuana team who has failed to win at home yet. If they’re able to do that they put themselves right in the thick of the higher end of the table. While Tijuana has failed to win at home, they’re a win away from being in the hunt for a Liguilla spot.

Saturday:

Top Five Matchup In El Azteca

Santos takes their three game winning streak into Mexico City to face Club America in the game of the week. Santos are the hottest team in Liga MX after picking up all nine points in their last three matches. The matchup against Club America provides Santos with a chance to prove themselves against one of the favorites for the Liga MX Clausura crown. America for their part have been inconsistent from week to week as they’ve failed to string together two consecutive good games in a row. After beating lowly Dorados last week, America now have a chance bunk that inconsistency by knocking off the hot Santos. Also, they will want to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd after being embarrassed 4-1 by Pachuca last time they played in front of their fans.

Who Can Bounce Back From Disappointment?

Last week, Atlas had a win taken away at the last minute from an offsides goal to share the points. Midweek, Puebla let a 2-0 lead slip to draw 2-2 in their Copa Libertadores play in matchup. The question is who can overcome those painful draws and turn their fortunes around. While Puebla is playing at home, they’ll be playing their third game in seven days, which will really challenge the lack of depth the modest team has. Also ahead of Puebla is a trip midweek to Argentina for their second leg of the Copa Libertadores play-in match. This really gives Atlas the best chance to bounce back and get an important away win, so look for Atlas to be aggressive from the get go.

Monterrey With Perfect Chance To Get Back On Track

Last week, Monterrey lost their perfect mark after being handedly beaten by Pachuca. This week they get to return home and luckily for them, they get to host last place Dorados. Monterrey couldn’t have asked for a better team to play after losing their first game of the season. Dorados not only have yet to earn a point and sit bottom of the league table and relegation table, they’ve failed to score a goal in the 360 minutes of Liga MX action so far. While at some point Dorados will have to finally score and earn a point, it’s almost impossible to see them leaving Monterrey with anything other than a defeat.

The Luis Fernando Tena Era Begins In Leon

The match between Leon and Morelia marks the first time Luis Fernando Tena coaches for Leon after taking over for Juan Antonio Pizzi after he took over the Chile head coaching job. The questions for Leon are how different they will look under Tena. Leon were looking very strong in the opening few rounds, will Tena try to make dramatic changes or look to continue and just make a few modifications to what Pizzi was building. The second question is how they’ll bounce back from being picked apart last week against Tigres for their first defeat. Morelia will look to sit back and frustrate Leon and grind out the match. While they’re still very much in the relegation battle, taking points away from Leon can see them start passing people in the relegation battle.

Can Chivas Finally Win?

Entering the fifth round of matches, Chivas are only one of three teams who’ve yet to taste victory. Not only have they yet to win so far this season, they also sit second to last in the relegation table. While that might be enough to be relegated this season since Dorados have been terrible, the lack of points will have a lingering affect for following seasons. While Toluca have looked good at times, they’ve let points slip away so far this season which is out of character for the club. Another week without a win for Chivas will begin to build pressure on an already unstable club, and Toluca are a club who will enter the match thinking it can come away with a win.

Sunday:

Will Pachuca Stay Undefeated?

Found five closes with only one match on Friday with Pumas hosting Pachuca. Four weeks into the Liga MX season and Pachuca sit in first place as the only team who’s yet to taste defeat. They’re on an impressive run that includes beating America 4-1 and Monterrey 3-1 in their last two outings. If the young guns of Pachuca were able to add another impressive win to their resume and defeat Pumas in Mexico City, they don’t only become a good early season story, but look like a real threat going forward in the season. Pumas have yet to look like the team that made a run all the way to the finals last season and really need to get a positive result at home. At the end, look for Pachuca to send a message to the rest of the league and earn at least a point in Mexico City and keep their undefeated season intact.

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About the author
Ivan Sanchez-Carrasco
Based out of Portland, Oregon, A first generation Mexican-American who writes about the Mexican National team, as well as opinion pieces on other soccer topics. Also check out my other writing as well. http://futbolpulse.com/author/ivan-sanchez/