6 Bold Predictions for Liga MX Week 14
The 2014 Apertura continues this weekend with Matchday 14. The fans can expect nine exciting games, including the Monterrey Derby.
While America lead the tournament and have already secured a spot in the Liguilla, Atlas, Toluca, Tigres and Monterrey will fight to improve their position in the general table.
Those at the bottom, such as Morelia, Guadalajara and Universidad de Guadalajara, will try to overturn their situation and give some joy to their fans, despite lacking any opportunity to make the playoffs.
The race for the top scorer honors is at its best. Dorlan Pabon leads with nine goals to his name, but Mauro Boselli and Ariel Nahuelpan trail by one.
A lot could be defined this week, so let's take a look at six bold predictions for Matchday 14.
UNAM Will Get Inside the Top 8
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UNAM are set to visit Santos Laguna this week, hoping to get inside the qualification zone for the Liguilla.
So far, Pumas have 16 points and sit 11th in the general table. If they secure three points in Matchday 14, they have a good chance at getting into the top eight.
However, Los Guerreros are coming off a 5-0 victory over Guadalajara at the Copa MX. Javier Orozco will be a thriving force for the home team, as he has recorded five goals in 12 appearances.
Santos Laguna haven't won at Estadio Corona since Week 8, yet still, they sit eighth in the general table, which would be enough to make the playoffs.
This will be a very offensive game. Orozco is going through a good moment, but UNAM also have a powerful striker in their ranks, Mexican Eduardo Herrera.
Veracruz Will Defeat Chiapas for the 1st Time in 7 Years
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Chiapas have tied or won the last four matches against Veracruz. The last time Tiburones Rojos defeated Jaguares was in the 2007 Clausura, when they played at the Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente.
However, they haven't been able to repeat the feat, and it doesn't seem like they will turn it around, as they are going through a bad moment as they sit 14th in the general table and 15th in the relegation table.
A win for Veracruz would mean their fourth victory of the 2014 Apertura, as well as the third on their own turf.
Jaguares will fight hard to secure their second successive win of the season and continue their way to the Liguilla, which they haven't played since the 2010 Apertura.
Daniel Armenteros and Matias Vuoso have scored eight of Chiapas' 17 goals.
Morelia Will Defeat Cruz Azul
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Morelia continue at the bottom of the general table with a 1-4-8 record and a goal difference of minus-14.
This week, they will travel to Mexico City to face Cruz Azul, a club they have defeated seven times in the past 10 games.
However, Cruz Azul comes off from a painful draw against Costa Rican side Alajuelense in the CONCACAF Champions League, which meant their elimination from the tournament.
Christian Gimenez, Mariano Pavone and Joao Rojas have been instrumental in La Maquina's attacking strategy, providing verticality and rhythm to the club in the last third of the pitch.
The real problem is Cruz Azul's mentality. Coach Luis Fernando Tena needs to work in this matter soon, because the Liga MX is coming to an end, and they are close to missing the Liguilla.
Pachuca Won't Stop Universidad de Guadalajara
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This season, Pachuca have lost twice at the Estadio Hidalgo—to Monterrey and Tigres.
On the other hand, Universidad de Guadalajara have only secured two victories so far, none of them outside their own turf.
Los Tuzos have a squad full of youngsters, who have proven to be up for the challenge. Rodolfo Pizarro, Miguel Angel Herrera, Dieter Villalpando and Hirving Lozano have made the generational transition easier. They fight every ball and have managed to become successful links between lines.
Nahuelpan has become an undisputed starter, thanks to his speed and accuracy; he has put the ball away eight times in 11 appearances.
Leones Negros have improved considerably throughout the tournament, but they lack the finishing touch; also, their defense is shaky.
They have scored seven times and have conceded 14 goals.
Atlas Will Lose on Home Soil Again
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Puebla visit Atlas in a venue where they haven't won since Matchday 1 of the 2011 Apertura.
La Franja have been far from impressive this season. The last time they grabbed three points was in Week 7 when they defeated Morelia. It was also Jose Luis Sanchez's first game as Puebla coach.
The club needs to win soon, because they are getting closer to arriving in Ascenso MX. Sanchez's side is in the penultimate spot in the relegation table, only ahead of Universidad de Guadalajara.
Defeating Los Zorros won't be an easy feat. Atlas will look to secure their place in the Liguilla and what better scenario to do so than on their own turf.
Toluca stunned Los Zorros last week, becoming the first squad to defeat them at Estadio Jalisco during the 2014 Apertura.
Leon Will Break Toluca's Unbeaten Streak on Home Soil
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Toluca are the only side that haven't lost on home soil. They hold a seven-match unbeaten streak at Estadio Nemesio Diez.
But hold your breath, because the last squad that defeated them on home soil was Leon, last season in the Liguilla semi-finals.
In the regular season, Diablos Rojos haven't lost since September 2013, when Cruz Azul left Toluca with a 2-1 victory.
Although Leon have one of the best scorers of the tournament—Boselli has put the ball away eight times—the Panzas Verdes have had a shaky season, with a 5-0-8 record that puts them in the 13th place of the table.
Meanwhile, Toluca are second, four points shy of America, and they are the fourth-best defense of the 2014 Apertura, as they have only allowed 11 goals.
Also, with four matchdays to go, they have the chance to lead the tournament, and the first step to achieve the feat is winning this match.
All stats appear courtesy of ESPN FC, unless otherwise noted.
