5 Key Battles for Liga MX Week 10
Week 10 of the 2014 Apertura will be a key matchday, as several clubs still have a shot at qualifying for the Liguilla, but the footballers need to stay at their best.
It will be an interesting week since several undisputed starters won't appear due to injuries, such is the case of Monterrey stalwarts Humberto Suazo and Efrain Velarde.
Some players, like Arturo Alfonso Gonzalez and Joao Rojas, must keep up their good work; while others, such as veteran Jonny Magallon, need to step up and take advantage of their experience.
Let's take a look at the key battles for the upcoming matchday.
Ronaldinho (Queretaro) vs. Paulo Da Silva (Toluca)
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Ronaldinho's tournament debut with Queretaro in Matchday 9 couldn't have been better.
The Brazilian superstar completed 89 percent of the passes he sent, he scored once and had one assist, as per Squawka.
The 4-1 victory over Guadalajara took Gallos Blancos from eighth to sixth in the general table, which also means they are a step closer to the Liguilla.
This week Ronaldinho will try to put Toluca in distress, but the task won't be easy, as he will face Paulo da Silva.
The Diablos Rojos captain struggled to keep the defense tight in the first games of the season, however he has managed to organize his teammates through leadership.
So far, Toluca have conceded six goals, and they have the fourth best defense of the 2014 Apertura.
Javier Orozco (Santos Laguna) vs. Moises Munoz (America)
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Javier Orozco scored three goals between Matchdays 4 and 7. In that four-week period he also had an 80 percent shot accuracy, according to Squawka.
However, Chuletita hasn't been as lucky in the past couple of games, but he has surely been an asset for Santos Laguna, especially in the center of the pitch from where he has created two goal chances.
Orozco has only scored once against America, in Matchday 17 of the 2011 Apertura, when he played for Cruz Azul.
This will be the perfect opportunity to challenge Moises Munoz, who has only conceded six goals in nine weeks, helping Las Aguilas become the second-best defense of the tournament.
Joao Rojas (Cruz Azul) vs. Jonny Magallon (Leon)
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Cruz Azul has only scored six times in the 2014 Apertura, two of them from Joao Rojas' shoes.
The Ecuador international has been a key figure in the last third of the pitch, from where he has created eight goal chances, as per Squawka.
His speed and dribbling skills allow him to unbalance the rivals' defense easily, which will be fundamental against Leon.
Last week La Fiera put an end to a three-week winless period, however their back line is still shaky.
Jonny Magallon, one of the most experienced footballers in the Liga MX, hasn't had a walk in the park ever since Rafael Marquez left the team
The centre-back, who can also play on the flanks, has yet to effectively lead the defense and help to deliver the results coach Gustavo Matosas expects.
Bernardo Hernandez (Monterrey) vs. Arturo Alfonso Gonzalez (Atlas)
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Monterrey will miss their starting left-back, Efrain Velarde. Chispa suffered a tear in his left thigh, which will leave him out of action for three weeks.
This means coach Carlos Barra will give Bernardo Hernandez a chance to start against Atlas. This will be his second appearance in the 2014 Apertura; in Matchday 9 he came in for Velarde.
One of Hernandez's most valuable skills is his fine touch. Against Toluca he completed 91 percent of the passes he sent, as reported by Squawka.
However, his lack of experience (he has only played 605 minutes since his debut in the 2013 Clausura) will be his biggest disadvantage.
Arturo Alfonso Gonzalez needs to take advantage of that, especially since he scored again last weekend versus Cruz Azul, proving his worth in Los Zorros' attack.
Ponchito has put the ball away four times and has created eight opportunities, including one assist.
Aquivaldo Mosquera (Pachuca) vs. Edgar Gerardo Lugo (UANL)
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Aquivaldo Mosquera missed the first three weeks of the 2014 Apertura due to injury. His return was far from impressive but little by little he has gone back to his old self.
In Matchday 9 the Colombian prevented Osvaldo Martinez from scoring America's first, plus he has sent two key passes since his return, according to Squawka.
This week he will try to help Pachuca get back in the winner's circle, as well as to the Liguilla qualification zone.
Los Tuzos will face UANL at the Estadio Hidalgo, and they need to be careful because Tigres come from a victory at the Copa MX, which handed them a ticket to the tournament’s quarterfinals.
Mosquera needs to put especial attention on Edgar Gerardo Lugo, who scored the winner against Universidad de Guadalajara last weekend.
It was Lugo's first goal in the Liga MX since the 2013 Apertura, which will surely boost his confidence.
All stats appear courtesy of ESPN FC, unless otherwise noticed.
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