Last Updated on July 4, 2023 3:30 pm by Erwin Noguera
The Apertura of the Liga MX started again at an unusual time of the year. In 2022 it began in July to have everything warped up before the World Cup. This time they decided to keep such a schedule. Also, the league will have an almost month-long pause due to the celebration of the Leagues Cup. If we add the missing players that many teams have due to the international cups being celebrated by the Concacaf, we obtain a pretty weird tournament.
Whatever the case, the fact is that the first matchday of the Apertura MX 2023 is now history, so let’s take a look at the main games that it gifted us.
Apertura MX 2023 Matchday 1 – Club América 1-2 Juarez – Info
When:
Friday, June 30th at the Estadio Azteca
Where can I watch it?
We start the resume strongly with the biggest surprise of the matchday. A Club América without some of its main figures, like Henry Martin, faced Juarez in what, on paper, seemed like an easy challenge to start their way. However, that was not the case.
The Eagles were far from their usual oppressive self, and let the Bravos face them in a give-and-take for moments. The visitors even had more shots on target, showing great effectiveness and danger in the area.
However, América was the team who opened the scoreboard with a goal from Suarez at minute 15. At the moment it seemed like it would be a soft ride to victory, but far from true as we said. At the end of the match, Juarez started to take advantage of their major effectiveness and with goals at 86′ and 90+5′, put definitive numbers to the game. Now the fans of the Azulcremas suffered yet another disappointment at their stadium after Chivas beat them in the semifinals of the Clausura.
Apertura MX 2023 Matchday 1 – San Luis 1-1 Monterrey – Info
When:
Saturday, July 1st at the Estadio Alfonso Lastras
Where can I watch it?
In another surprising result, the Rojiblancos managed to snatch a point against a strong opponent in their stadium. This result gives hope to their fans, as, like in the last tournament, they started by taking points at matches where they were far from being the favorites. They made a more than acceptable participation in the Clausura 2023 and the athletes should be hungry to repeat the feat or go even further.
On the side of Monterrey, is yet another disappointing result. However, they have plenty of time and quality to restructure and achieve their objectives. Yet, the signs at this match were a little worrying, even as a visitor, the fact that they had fewer possession and shots on target than San Luis shows fragility. The good news is that Funes Mori netted their goal, so even with the years passing, their legend is still in force.
Ángel Zaldívar scored the equalizer for the locals via penalty.
Apertura MX 2023 Matchday 1 – Tigres 1-1 Puebla – Info
When:
Saturday, July 1st at the Estadio Universitario
Where can I watch it?
In yet another surprise, Tigres failed to achieve the three points against a Puebla side that has been pretty weak lately. After being Campeón de Campeones of the Liga MX, the felines hoped to start this new tournament at full speed but that will have to wait. They dominated the match to some extent, and had more shots on target but were still closer to losing than to any other result.
The good news is that Ibañez got the goal at the end of the match, and overall had a good match replacing the injured Gignac. The striker had a poor debut season with the Regiomontanos that could have been influenced by all the DT chaos in the club, as his role changed dramatically with every new appointment. Now that the waters have calmed, all fans hope that he gets his Tigres career up and running. This is his second consecutive goal in official matches.
Puebla, on the other side, was more than a good visitor and didn’t get the win by a fluke. They hope this is the start of a better period of form for the club, as in the last two tournaments they were closer to falling from the Liguilla qualifiers spots than to establish themselves in there.
Apertura MX 2023 Matchday 1 – León 1-2 Chivas – Info
When:
Monday, July 3rd at the Estadio León
Where can I watch it?
Finally, we end this resume with the match between León and Chivas. The team from Guadalajara was the only big club that didn’t disappoint their fans on the first matchday. After their heartbreak in the Liguilla Final last season, they hope that this victory gets them up and running to go for the Liga MX trophy again.
They decided to approach this match with a defensive mentality, frustrating La Fiera’s attacks over and over and being lethal in the counter-attack. Although their happiness after the first goal by Briceño was short, with Alvarado equalizing for León less than five minutes after that, they remained mentally strong and got the winner at 81′ thanks to Sandoval.
León, on the other side, has not been able to retake the form they had at the mid and late season in the last tournament, which take them (for some rounds) to the second place of the standings in the regular face and crowned them in the Concachampions final. They were poor in the Liguilla, falling in the playoffs, and now start the new tournament with a loss at home.
However, is more than clear that this side has great quality, so they have chances of waking up at any given time. Whatever the case, the sooner the better, as they will represent Concacaf at the Club World Cup and have to, at least, reach the final to consider their participation a success. There they will, more than likely, have to face the powerful Manchester City of Pep, so they must prepare.
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