We’re now a month away from Liga MX’s 2023 Clausura season, and Week 5 in Mexico’s premier league is full of excitement: Mexico’s much-awaited Tigres debut Diego Lainez , a number of clubs that have already launched championship candidate cases, have proposed changes to the league structure by Liga MX president Mikel Arriola, etc.
There’s a lot to cover from the latest jornada (match week), so in case you missed anything, here are three talking points and some additional observations to keep you up to date.
– Liga MX . standings | Liga MX coverage on ESPN Deportes
– Americas Futbol on ESPN+: Liga MX, MLS, USMNT, El Tri
Liga MX president proposes sweeping structural changes, but what next?
With the usual set of graphics and detailed statistics displayed on a presentation behind him, MX . Federation recent president Mikel Arriola reveal some of the proposed changes, big and smallwhich he aims to achieve in the tournament.
As part of a more than 90-minute press conference last week with Mexican Football Federation (FMF) president Yon de Luisa – in response to a lackluster 2022 for both the men’s and women’s national teams – two The CEO came up with a new game plan that could change the way the pro football print is run in Mexico.
At the Liga MX level, recommendations include:
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Back to eight playoff slots instead of 12.
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Reduce the number of foreign players in each roster from eight to seven.
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A push to bring promotion and relegation.
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Stop having single entities own more than one club.
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Create a new title for the team with the highest total score for the whole year.
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Facilitate more transfers abroad for players.
However, an important caveat to stress at this point is that the clubs themselves still need to approve the changes. While Arriola hinted there is a “great openness” with team owners set to vote on the game plan in May, nothing is official until that happens.
It’s also important to note that even if these changes are approved in May, it could take an indefinite amount of time to start rolling out the changes. Promotion and relegation for example: Arriola noted in the press conference that only Leones Negros of the second division Open Federation eligible for promotion. In the past, federation officials have stated that at least four teams from the second division should be considered eligible for promotion to return, raising doubts that the changes could actually be back anytime soon. reality.
For single entities selling their additional groups, Arriola did not specify a timeline, then said that “it will be an organized process and it will certainly start as a minimal process.” maximize the value of groups.” But selling these group owners and ensuring they are no longer involved in other groups would be an easier said than done process.
Along with reducing the teams in the knockout stages, slightly changing the lineup, adding weight to the full-year results, and a few other small suggestions, the list of changes for Liga MX are small steps. on the right track for the future of Liga MX, but big questions remain when — or if — we’ll see these new policies become official.
Diego Lainez impresses when he returns to Mexico
Afterward week of transfer speculation and questions about his future, the 22-year-old Mexican winger Diego Lainez finally stepped onto the field for the first time in 2023.
On loan from LaLiga’s Real Betis against Tigres UANL in Liga MX, Lainez was eager to impress as he was substituted in the 54th minute of Saturday’s game. win 1-0 compare to Cruz Azul. Quick, precise in his passing and efficient in contention, the youngster showed little fear when the ball reached his feet.
Notably, in his most exciting run of the second half, Lainez edged past a defender Cruz Azul, sneaking past another with a fake shot, all before being stopped by the veteran keeper. excellent break. God “Transfers” Corona.
A nada de hacer tu primer gol como Tigre, @DiegoLainez10. pic.twitter.com/0zdfFvZEOj
— Official Tigres Club (@TigresOficial) February 5, 2023
That eerie moment is the perfect embodiment of what the winger can still deliver. Many have questioned Lainez’s choice to return to Mexico and raised concerns about his inability to start with Real Betis in Spain or, most recently, with Real Betis. Braga in Portugal, but in Mexico there are very few players who have the ability to balance or dribble like him.
If he can earn normal minutes with tiger and showing his quality consistently, there’s no reason he couldn’t return to the conversation in Mexico’s senior national team after being dropped from the 2022 World Cup squad. a new cycle before 2026, what exactly could a resurrected Lainez be El Tri needs in the era need generational change.
A return to Europe shouldn’t be ruled out either, but first he needs consistent minutes with Tigres, and netting after those clever dribbles.
Pachuca, Tigres and Monterrey emerge as early favorites
With five matches played by all but four Liga MX clubs, the standings are finally starting to take shape with some initial trends. Out of 18 clubs, only 3 got 11 points or more: First place Pachuca (12), second place Monterrey (12), and third place tiger (11).
Despite being the defending champion, Pachuca defied all odds by playing very well without Nicolas Ibanez, the club’s top scorer from last season currently plays for Tigres. Since then, they have been carried by the Mexican midfielder Javier “Chofis” López, who scored his fourth goal of the season in a 1-0 win over Leon at the weekend. Suppose, I think Los Tuzos also recently signed the MLS Cup champion and Colombian striker Cristian “Chicho” Arango from LAFCanother Liga MX title could soon be within reach.
In Monterrey, Los Rayados became the first team this season to have four straight wins after beating Toluca 2-1 on Sunday. While some initial praise was given to the goalscoring efforts of strikers such as Rogelio Funes Mori And Germanmidfielder Alfonso “Ponchito” Gonzalez stole the show over the weekend with a double in his 200th game for the club. Their deep squad, all under the guidance of seasoned coach Victor Vucetich, has worked wonders so far.
As for Tigres, there is a huge amount of firepower with the French star Andre-Pierre GignacIbañez, Lainez and many others made an impact in a third of the final — but the veteran goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman should also be given credit. He wasn’t as busy in the net as other goalkeepers at the start of the year, but the Argentinian deserved his third game of the season in a tight win over Cruz Azul. Up front, if Ibañez and Lainez have time to combine with the others, Tigres will become even more dangerous.
Additional observations
– Elsewhere in Week 5: Atletico San Luis won their first home win with a score of 2-0 against Puebla, Necaxa came back from an early 1-1 draw with Club Tijuana, FC Juarez scored three goals. in a 3-2 away draw against Mazatlan, Santos Laguna conceded two goals in a 2-2 home draw against Club America, Atlas’ Julian Quiñones scored the equalizer in the 87th minute in a 2-2 draw with Pumas, and Chivas scored in the 92nd minute of Alejandro Mayorga’s equalizer in Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Queretaro.
– In case you missed it: ESPN’s exclusive interview with Mauricio Isais, the 21-year-old Pachuca full-back is well worth a look for Liga MX fans or check out. El Tri. Mexican-American Liga MX Champion discuss his European ambitions, the future of the national team and other topics.
– Others bite dust. Six days after Mazatlan coach Gabriel Caballero was fired, Club Tijuana coach Ricardo Valiño was also fired last Saturday. The side street team is still without a win since August.
– To wrap up, we come to Santos Laguna midfielder Lucas Gonzalez. Just 19 minutes after the 22-year-old Argentinian made his Liga MX debut, he also received his first consecutive red card in the tournament. Not exactly the best first impression, and the palm emoji from the club’s official account says it all.
