Liga MX Apertura Week 10: Chivas and Club América in slumps ahead of Clásico Nacional week

Here are some of the main takeaways from the tenth week of play in the 2019 Liga MX Apertura.

Chivas brought back down to reality...again

Sorry Chivas fans, it was only Atlas. After winning the Clásico Tapatío, Chivas were back to their old selves again, losing 1-0 to Monarcas Morelia on Friday.

It’s all in the numbers, and Chivas have now gone winless in five of their last six matches across all competitions. They are also now officially three points back from eighth place Tigres in the fight for a place in the Liguilla.

With Pachuca and Club América coming up next week, it is basically now or never for coach Tomas Boy. There is a very high possibility that if Chivas get embarrassed by Las Águilas on Saturday, the Rojiblancos will have a new coach.

León triumph over Necaxa at the Estadio Victoria

This was low-key always going to be one of the games of the week. On the one side you had the league leaders Necaxa playing under Guillermo Vazquez Jr and looking to stay at the top of the Liga MX table. On the other, the high-scoring Club León and the new much more offensive Ignacio Ambriz.

The outcome was always going to be goals and goals is what we got. Both teams went into the 90th minute tied at two goals apiece, and it wasn’t until a last-minute Ismael Sosa goal that La Fiera managed to get some separation on their way to a 4-2 victory away from home.

There is not much else to say about León. They keep getting it done, and with Ambriz suddenly betraying his overly-defensive tactics with attacking ones, La Fiera is one of the funnest teams to watch in Liga MX. Who knows? They might mess around and get to the Liga MX Final again.

Pachuca get a rare win

One team that has seemingly gone unnoticed this season and in a bad way is Pachuca. After pushing Tigres to the limit in the Quarterfinals last season, Los Tuzos have completely fallen off the map in this Apertura. In fact, as weird as it sounds, on Saturday Pachuca got a rare win at the Estadio Hidalgo, crushing Xolos de Tijuana 4-1. It was only their second win at home in their last six in Liga MX.

Indeed, perhaps therein lies the key for Los Tuzos’ success. We know how good they can be at home, and when they manage to go on long undefeated streaks at the Estadio Hidalgo is when they best put themselves in positions to compete against the very best.

Another home game, another draw for Club América

It is fair to say Club América are in something of a slump right now. Las Águilas are winless in each of their last seven matches across all competitions, with their latest game coming in the form of a 2-2 draw at home versus Querétaro.

No complaints here, it was an entertaining game between Águilas and Gallos Blancos, and like last week, América were ultimately done by an instant reply from the opposing team, with a bulk of that criticism once again going to Guillermo Ochoa. Obviously, life back in Liga MX hasn’t been all that peachy for Guillermo Ochoa, but truth be told, there has also been other outside factors that have impeded América from having any real success through the course of the last weeks. One of those has been injuries, which makes you think some relief is definitely in the horizon as several players get back to full health. Ochoa won’t have to be the scapegoat for much longer.

The Cruzazuleada makes its return

Y'all thought it was gone? Think again. Cruz Azul pulled one of their tradition cruazuleadas on Sunday, allowing Pumas to come from a goal down to earn 1-1 draw at home. Cruz Azul had just arrived fresh from their Leagues Cup win over Tigres, but this time around, it wasn’t meant to be.

Cruz Azul have improved quite a bit under new manager Robert Siboldi, and they could be forgiven for a draw in the heat of Mexico City. That said, the fight for a Playoff spot is shaping up to be a tight one, where any point can end up mattering the long-run.