Last Updated on January 4, 2023 3:07 pm by Erwin Noguera
This Friday, January 6, the Clausura 2023 of the MX League begins, where Pachuca will defend the title won in the previous tournament, while others such as América or Tigres will try to reach the top.
The tournament will be running until May 28, the day of the final. There will be 17 matchdays and then the final phase, where those classified from 5th to 12th will face each other (5th vs. 12th, 6th vs. 11th, 7th vs. 10th, and 8th vs. 9th) in a single match in the stadium of the best placed in the table.
The 4 winners of these keys will join the top 4 in the table to play the quarterfinals, starting the so-called Liguilla, these in-home and away matches, and with the same format of the best placed in the table against the worst. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the team that was higher in the general table. The same format is repeated in the semifinals, while in the final, in case of a tie, there is extra time and penalties if necessary.
Unlike previous tournaments, this time there has not been a big surprise in new players, although it must be remembered that the teams have the possibility of signing players until the first days of February.
Clausura 2023 of the Liga MX – Betting Favorites
América +350
Despite failing to lift the cup the previous year and being disappointing, América remains the main contender for the title. The ‘Águilas’ fell surprisingly in the semifinals with Toluca (3-2), despite having had a spectacular regular season.
Although they have not brought in new players, they did suffer a great loss: Guillermo Ochoa. Their goalkeeper, who was also the captain, decided to return to Europe at the age of 37 and after a great World Cup, signed with Salernitana in Italy. Camilo Vargas (Atlas) and Agustín Marchesín (Celta de Vigo) are some of the options that the club is considering for his replacement.
Pachuca +450
The Mexican soccer champion takes to the ring. After a great tournament finish, where they beat Monterrey 6-2 in the semifinal and Toluca 8-2 in the final, the ‘Tuzos’ demonstrated their offensive power, led by Nicolás Ibáñez, who was the tournament’s top scorer (16). In addition, it is the second consecutive final of the team after losing 1 year ago with Atlas.
However, Guillermo Almada’s team has not yet been reinforced and suffered the loss of Víctor Guzmán, who went to Chivas and was a very important player for Pachuca, scoring 1 goal in the final and another in the quarterfinals, as well as giving 2 assists in the final and another in the semifinal. The future of Luis Chávez and Kevin Álvarez, who could emigrate to Europe, is also awaited.
Monterrey +650
The Rayados squad is one of the most valuable, which makes them the third candidate for the title. In the last tournament, they were second in the general table and eliminated Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals, but then they fell in the semifinals with Pachuca.
Monterrey has a very good team and also brought in midfielders Jordi Cortizo (Puebla) and Omar Govea (Voluntari – Romania), who will replace midfielders Rodolfo Pizarro (Inter Miami) and Matías Kranevitter (River Plate), while the defender and captain César Montes went to Espanyol. Likewise, they are in negotiations to repatriate several Mexicans in Europe such as Jesús Corona (Sevilla), Diego Lainez (Sporting Braga), and Oberlín Pineda (AEK Athens), and these could be the largest purchases in Mexican soccer this year, which would raise the Rayados chances.
Tigres +800
The other team from Monterrey, Tigres, comes stronger this year by hiring Fernando Gorriarán, one of Santos’ stars, and coach Diego Cocca, a two-time champion recently with Atlas. The team will continue to rotate around the figure of André-Pierre Gignac, who, despite his 37 years, continues to show great talent. He was the top scorer for the ‘felinos’ and third in the last tournament (11), only behind Nicolás Ibáñez (Pachuca) and Henry Martin (América).
The team’s casualties, in addition to coach Miguel Herrera, are those of Hugo Ayala, Luis Rodríguez, and Jordy Caicedo, all substitutes. Without a doubt, the Ecuadorian striker was a great disappointment to Tigres, who expected much more from him.
The rest of the teams in the league:
Toluca +1100
Cruz Azul +1200
Chivas +1200
Santos +1200
León +1600
Atlas +2000
Puebla +2000
Pumas +2000
Atlético San Luis +4000
Mazatlán +4000
Necaxa +5000
Tijuana +5000
Juárez +5000
Querétaro +10000
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