Liga MX Apertura Week 8: Silvio Romero stars for Club America

Here your five conclusions from the eighth week of play in the Liga MX Apertura

Atlas have match against Tigres postponed

Atlas had already started this Jornada in disastrous circumstances, losing five of their last six games in all competitions. When it was announced that their game against Tigres on Friday would be postponed for an issue with one of their screens, the feeling around Liga MX was that of hilarity. For a team that is fighting for relegation, it is incredulous that an issue with one of your stadium screens can cause a match to be postponed. While Atlas are now the butt of everybody's jokes, in a sporting sense, Atlas are not doing themselves any favors. The game against Tigres was always going to be tough, but after a long international break, even a draw against the regiomontanos would have been seen as a positive result.

Lobos BUAP in trouble

If there is some good news for Atlas it is that Lobos BUAP are now last in the relegation table. In a few weeks’ time Lobos BUAP has gone from top of the league to favorite to go down. On Saturday, Rafael Puente Jr’s men accumulated their fifth straight game without a win, losing 3-1 to Monarcas Morelia.

This is a perfect reminder that Liga MX is not easy for newly promoted teams. The Liga MX newcomers are still without a TV deal, and the team is scouring for money to pay for their team’s expenses. Whether these off the field issues are affecting the team or not, the fact of the matter is that they have to do better or continue sinking in their fight for survival.

Chivas shine against Pachuca

Ultimately this was a fine way for Chivas to come back from the international break as they pummeled Pachuca 3-1 on Saturday. The defending champs put on an excellent first half performance to land their first win of the season and move up to 15th in the league table. After Michael Perez, “Chofis”, and Carlos Fierro scored in the first period, Pachuca rallied without creating too much, scoring their only goal of the game in the second half through Franco Jara.

For Chivas, this win will do little in way of league positioning, but momentum can be everything in Liga MX. Historically speaking, the Estadio Hidalgo is a tough venue for Chivas, and winning there should be considered an important accomplishment. Next, Chivas take on an opponent that has been struggling tremendously in recent weeks, Pumas UNAM, and then they take on arch rivals Club America. Wins there and there is no telling how far their momentum can take them.

Silvio Romero stars for Club America

As a striker, there is nothing like a goal to get you up and running. After all, that is what you get paid to do. Prior to Saturday’s 2-0 win over Veracruz, Silvio Romero had struggled to find the net. Against the Tiburones Rojos, however, the former Chiapas striker shined, netting his first brace of the season.

Romero shouldn’t be praised just for his goal. His movement into deeper positions was excellent and he made a really good case as to why an in-form Romero might make Club America an even more dangerous team. Las Aguilas are rolling at the moment, and Miguel Herrera has this team playing some of the best football, if not the best, in all of Mexico. If Romero can find his feet in front of net, this team becomes that much more favorite to win it all.

Xolos de Tijuana continue to sink Pumas

Pumas UNAM keep finding ways of underachieving this season, and even with Francisco Palencia no longer as manager, the Universitarios continue to let down their fans. On Sunday, the team suffered their second home defeat of the season and their sixth in their last eight home games.

Never mind the fact that this season looks like is already over for Pumas, there seems to be no sense of direction coming from the team’s upper management. Pumas look toothless and talentless, and for all the skill Nicolas Castillo and Marcelo Diaz can bring to the table, this team is simply not good enough.

This, of course, is no fault of Xolos de Tijuana, who earned their fourth straight win of the season and moved all the way up to third in table. Like Pumas, Xolos have had a tendency of selling their best players but somehow keep finding ways to make the Liguilla. Perhaps, Pumas should learn from Tijuana, a team quietly giving their fans reason to be optimistic again this season.