Match Preview: Chivas vs Toluca

Guadalajara will make their home debut in the Guard1anes 2021 as they face “leaders” Toluca on Saturday. Chivas will hope to improve from their first game against Puebla as they face a Toluca team that sits on top of the leaderboard on goals scored. Chivas will have to improve and will need to do so without Jose Juan Macias, who is still out with COVID 19, while Toluca would hope to continue but might do so without the referee help they got in their first game.

Chivas is coming into the season needing to improve on a season where they were inconsistent but in the end finished on a high note, getting into the Semifinals after eliminating their main rival Club America. The season started on a bad note after losing Isaac Brizuela to injury and Jose Juan Macias to a positive COVID 19 test. They also had an injured Alexis Vega who couldn’t start and came in the 2nd half, not playing well in the process. For this game they expect Brizuela and Vega to return but Macias will be out for this game too. They will face a team that looks more dangerous than Puebla, but the ‘Camoteros’ were still a tough match being an away game and Chivas looked the better side, which should be a plus. Chivas will hope that Oribe Peralta can once again show a surprising performance as a Vega-Oribe partnership might be needed to counter a Toluca side that looks to be bringing it on offense.

Toluca are coming into the match in first place. While a lot of teams got the 3 points, Toluca is on top as the team with the better goal difference. With returning Coach Hernan Cristante, Toluca came out swinging especially on offense. Yet the team got benefitted from a terrible performance from referee Adalid Maganda, who took a goal from Queretaro and failed to give a clear penalty kick. Toluca is likely not to get a performance like that especially away to Chivas. With forwards like Michael Estrada and Alexis Canelo playing well and an age-defying Rubens Sambueza, the offense from Toluca is going to be tough for Chivas. Still, if Chivas’ offense clicks, it will probably be trouble for Toluca especially since goalkeeper Luis Garcia continues to be inconsistent. Still, Toluca should be a tough matchup for Chivas on both sides of the field.

Chivas might be slightly favored coming into the game as they are at home and had a better season last semester than Toluca. Yet, Chivas will be missing Macias and Toluca should be at full strength. Chivas also need to step up on defense as they will face a Toluca side that is dangerous up front. In the end it’s a tough match to predict and a tie would not be at all surprising.