América possible starting lineup against Chivas for the Liga MX Clásico Nacional
Fernando Ortiz’s side started off slowly but have gradually climbed up the standings where they sit fifth head of tonight’s crunch match.
After a shaky start to the Clausura 2023, América appear to have finally settled into some sort of consistency. Fernando Ortiz’s side won just one of the first five games of the campaign, reaching a new low in Week 2 when they found themselves out of the Liguilla places. But they have picked themselves up since then and quickly made ground. Last week’s 0-2 result away at Tigres enabled Las Águilas to move up a place to fifth in the table, just one place and one point behind this evening’s rivals, Chivas. Only one team have beaten Ortiz’s side this year - Pachuca stunned the Azteca, coming away with a 0-3 win at the start of the month.
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Ortiz’s troops are unbeaten in their meetings with two of the top four - holding Toluca to a 2-2 draw in Week 2 and beating Tigres on the road last week. A win tonight would see them leapfrog Chivas and strengthen their chances of a top four finish. After the Clasico Nacional, América have a key run of games coming up, including potentially decisive meetings with León and Liga MX leaders Monterrey.
Ortiz has remained faithful to his 4-3-2-1 formation for most of the season, although on occasion he has opted for a more conservative 4-4-2 with Diego Valdés and Álex Zendejas manning the wings. Usually though, he fields Valdés playing just behind frontman Henry Martín and flanked by Jonathan Rodríguez and Zendejas. The latter has only recently returned after missing five games with a muscle injury. If he doesn’t start, Ortiz could give Leo Suárez the nod to occupy the right wing position.
Leading América’s attack in the Clásico Nacional is the Liga MX’s most in-form striker and the most prolific - Henry Martín is the league’s top scorer on 23 goals, 10 of them in the Clausura 2023. He hit a hat trick and set up Valdés as the team thumped Mazatlán 6-0 in Week 4. El Búfalo has played in all of the team’s 11 games so far and is averaging a goal every 91:10 minutes.
América possible starting lineup against Chivas
Luis Ángel Malagón; Emilio Lara, Israel Reyes, Sebastián Cáceres, Salvador Reyes; Richard Sánchez, Álvaro Fidalgo, Álex Zendejas or Leo Suárez; Diego Valdés, Jonathan Rodríguez; Henry Martín.
When does the Clásico Nacional between Chivas and Club América kick off?
The Liga MX Clausura 2023 matchday 13 clash at Estadio Akron kicks off on Saturday 18 March at 11:10 p.m. ET / 8:10 p.m. PDT