Rafa Marquez, Miguel Herrera, And Liga MX's Round One Storylines

And so the Clausura 16 season is underway...

Atlas pick up victory in Queretaro

The Clausura 16 season got started with Rafael Marquez leading his boyhood team Atlas into Queretaro and pulling off a minor upset over Queretaro. Argentine Emanuel Villa got the home team off to a good start with a 21st minute goal. From there the visiting Tapatio’s took control of the match with young Mexican Arturo Gonzalez tying the match just five minutes later. After that, Gonzalo Bergesssio scored a double for Atlas to give them a resounding 3-1 win. It was the perfect start for Atlas, who struggled with consistency last year. Additionally, having Bergessio get off the mark with two goals along with Gonzalez having a good showing for them considering both struggled last season.

Miguel Herrera returns to Mexico

In the second match on Friday, Tijuana hosted Pachuca in the return of coach Miguel Herrera to Mexican soccer. His Tijuana club got off to a great start with a 20th minute goal from Carlos Guzman, but Pachuca forward Franco Jara was able to tie up the match and help give the visiting Tuzos a share of the points. Like many of the other matches this weekend, the game was a bit sloppy. It can be pointed out that unlike the lead up to the Apertura season, Clausura preseasons are much shorter so there’s less time to work. Herrera will be disappointed that the Xolos couldn’t take advantage of the home field advantage.

Puebla holds America

Saturday was kicked off by Puebla coming in with a perfect game plan and frustrating America to a 0-0 draw. Building off the success they had last season, Puebla came into Mexico City and frustrated the Eagles for large parts of the match. As for America, the pressure is now really on Nacho Ambriz after the way the last month and a half has gone for him. Now, a trip on Saturday to Jalisco in Rafael Marquez’s home debut against a surprising Atlas side seems more daunting.

Monterrey defeats Pumas

Up north Monterrey got off to a strong start by knocking off Apertura runner-ups Pumas for a 1-0 win after Rogelio Funes was able to give Monterrey the win in a match that they dominated from beginning to end. It was always going to be a tough trip for Pumas, but they looked much more like the team that lost 3-1 to America in the second leg of the semifinals and 3-0 in the first leg of the finals to Tigres than the team that won the second leg 4-1 over Tigres.

Cano leads Leon to victory over Santos

It was a second half double from German Cano that gave Leon all three points at home over Santos. It was a great way for The Emeralds to begin life after Carlos “Guti” Pena. Santos are in a long term plan after hiring 34-year-old Luis Zubeldia. It’s a frustrating start for Santos, who don’t look like a team which will be making a push to the playoffs right now. Meanwhile, Leon looked as strong as they did the season before.

Morelia and Azul share the spoils

This match saw two teams who needed to get off to strong starts for different reasons, Morelia and Cruz Azul slugged it out to a 2-2 draw. The Blue Machine haven’t made the Liguilla in three seasons, while Morelia are in the middle of a relegation battle and letting two points slip at home could come back to get them. They will feel hard done by because of the penalty given to Cruz Azul in the second half that was scored by Christian Gimenez. Yet, Morelia showed the kind of grit though that makes you think they will be able to stay in Liga MX by battling back with a Luis Rey goal to help them draw the match.

Chiapas beat Dorados at the death

The draw for Morelia looked better by Saturday nights end since Dorados left empty handed by a 87th minute goal by Silvio Romero to give Chiapas all three points. Chiapas were the better of the two teams all game long as they dominated the ball and continued to pepper the Dorados goal.

Toluca seal victory in semifinal rematch

Sunday morning was a rematch of last season’s semifinals between Toluca and Tigres. While Tigres dominated possession, it was Toluca who had more shots on goal, taking advantage and being more aggresive when they had the ball. Meanwhile, Tigres were more content with keeping the ball and lacked any real drive to attack the Toluca defense. As it looked like the game would end in a draw, a 90th minute Fernando Uribe goal gave the home team all three points.

Veracruz battle back for draw with Chivas

The last match of the week was Chivas hosting Veracruz. Newly signed Mexican international Carlos Pena got off to a good start with his new club when his first half header gave Chivas the lead. Twice they took the lead and both times Veracruz found a way to bounce back, with Julio Furch scoring the second goal in the 83rd minute. The draw isn’t the result Chivas wanted, especially in the manner that it happened by giving the lead away twice.

*Top Eight teams qualify to Liga MX Liguilla

Relegation battle: All five teams below bottom Dorados collected draws, meaning the table didn’t change at all. What is interesting is how they came about it with Puebla, Morelia, and Veracruz all showing more in their draws than Tijuana and Chivas as the two let leads go at home. Morelia, though they drew at home, also showed grit in making a comeback to earn the draw. Dorados can’t start falling behind so early in the season, and a win soon is a must if they hope to stay in Liga MX.

*Team with the lowest percentage after the reason will be relegated