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Mexican club football is officially back, and it all kicks off this Sunday at StubHub Center with the Supercopa MX between Club America and Querétaro.
As fate would have it, with arch-rival Chivas winning the double last season, Club America earned their entry into this Supercopa without actually winning the Copa MX. Las Aguilas finished the 2017 Copa MX Clausura with the most points in the group stage, and thanks to Chivas’ Copa MX and Liga MX conquests, it is Club America who will play part as the 2017 Copa MX Clausura representative in this match.
If you are a Club America fan, there is plenty to get excited about. Las Aguilas have seemingly cleaned out their closet during the offseason, and with the return of Miguel Herrera as head coach, there is a sense that the club is returning to its roots. Sure, there weren’t any major offseason signings in key offensive positions, but they certainly have one of the most well established spines in all of Liga MX, especially with the arrival of Guido Rodriguez from Club Tijuana.
Againstst Querétaro, Club America will be facing one of the brightest young Mexican coaching talents in the league in Jimmy Lozano. The Gallos Blancos arrive to this Supercopa by way of their 2016 Copa MX Apertura triumph, which was their first ever trophy in club history. What followed, however, was a shaky 2017 Clausura that eventually ended with the dismissal of legendary coach Victor Manuel Vucetich. With Jimmy Lozano now at the helm and a full offseason under his belt, big things are expected from Lozano and company, and a win here would be a good omen for a young Mexican coach looking to stamp his name in the contemporary landscape of Mexican football.
For a team synonymous with winning, though, this is already an early must-win match. Much of the focus will be on “Piojo” and if he can deliver. Not just in this game but for the rest of the Mexican club season. It is up to Lozano and Querétaro to pile on some early season pressure and earn their second major piece of silverware in club history.
Date: Sunday, July 16
Time: 2:30 PM Pacific, 4:30 PM Central, 5:30 PM Eastern
Venue: StubHub Center, Carson, California
Television: Univision (US-Spanish), Univision Deportes (US-Spanish), Gala TV (Mexico), Azteca 13(Mexico), TDN(Mexico)
Streaming: fuboTV (Free trial + monthly subscription), Univision NOW