There are two Clásicos en la Liga Mexicana this weekend: the Clásico Regio (Saturday, 10pm ET,UD) , the Monterrey Derby, will pit two teams who are in the midst of great seasons. And, of course, el Clásico Nacional (Sunday 7PM ET, Tele) – a game so big, the Omnilife might actually sell out: it's Chivas – Club America.
Tigres, the defending champs, have been nothing if not steadily consistent. Once again, Tuca's boys are at the top of the table and in serious contention to repeat as champs, which has not happened since Pumas did it 8 years ago under the watchful eye of Hugo Sánchez. After sliding a bit last season, Monterrey has come roaring back. They are poised for the rare double, a league trophy, as well as the repeat performance in the Concachampions. Last weekend, Angel Reyna, the former Club America player whose last communication with his former team probably ended with …and the horse you rode in on, gave his new team, a 90+ winner against Club America in the venerable Estadio Azteca.
Reyna was literally kicked off Club America after last year's game with Chivas, where he blasted both his coach and front office (and in my mind, embodied what Americanismo is all about). Monterrey happily scooped him up. Last week, we had discussed Herculez Gomez and hi luck to go from the worst team to the best team, and if he scored against Tecos, he would likely honor the tradition of not celebrating.
Reyna did not heed protocol.
After bagging the game-winner, Reyna ran toward the corner, and then posed in a way that might have well as been a gigantic middle finger to his former employers.
He did the Cuauh.
He downplayed the gesture post-game, of course, feeding the throngs of microphones the tired clichés. "the goal was important cuz it gave the team three points" yada yada yada.
Club América has little time to dwell on the defeat, as they have to head west to Guadalajara to play a team they have only beaten once in the last 8 tries. Nevertheless, the Mexico City club is in good shape to make the post-season, which is something their arch-rivals cannot say.
After a horrendous start to the season, Chivas have bounced back enough to scratch the liguilla door, but are still 3 points from the 8th and last playoff spot. Time is running out, and they missed a golden opportunity to add to their point total when an unbelievably late and unlucky own goal did them in against lowly Tecos. However, Chivas does get a boost as they get their Olympians back in Marco Fabian, Miguel Ponce, and Erick Torres. With only 4 games left, Chivas are running out time.
Univision is using the Monterrey Derby to launch their new Univision Deportes Network, which as of this posting appears to be only available on Dish.
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