América vs Querétaro - summary, score, highlights, Liga MX 2023 Clausura

Stalemate at the Azteca

A frustrating night for Fernando Ortiz and his Club America side who lacked the creativity to open a well drilled Queretaro side who finished bottom of the 2022 Apertura with just 9 points.

Plenty of work for the Argentine with a side who still look a little 'rusty'.

Take nothing away from the Gallos Blancos who rode their luck at times and had chances too to score at the other end but will thank the defensive heroics of Colombian defender Kevin Balanga and keeper Gil Alcala for thwarting the 'azulcreama' attack.

Poor from Ame' but what a defensive performance from Queretaro with defender Kevin Balanta and Gil Alcala in the Gallos goal immense tonight.

The whistle sounds and it ends goaless at the Azteca 

Balanta gets a card for time wasting....

Layun from distance but the Mexican international drives the ball well over the bar....the clock continues to tick down...

America still press but still no way through the white shirts of Queretaro.

Into added time we go with six minutes to be added.

Balanta and Alcala have been absolute titans for Queretaro tonight ...a point here for the Gallos Blancos would be celebrated as a psychological win for a team who only picked up 9 points in the regular season last in the Apertura 2022.

Alcaca carded for time wasting

Four minutes of the 90 remain and Queretaro are on the ropes now and unable to hand on to the ball but signs of frustration appearing for the home side.

Three times Alcala is called upon to save well with the ball bobbling around the Queretaro box. 

Time running out for America as the visitors hold out with some stout defending.

More Club America changes:

Leo Suárez on for Alejandro Zendejas

 Salvador Reyes on for Luis Fuentes

More changes for the visitors as they opt for a more defensive formation with Guzman on for Madueña. 

Sepulveda off too with the striker replaced by Barbeiri

Changes for Gallos as Jorge Hernández leaves and is replaced by Kevin Escamilla.

What a save from Alcala as the keeper gets down and makes an extraordaniry save from Henry Martin.

Sepulveda almost sneaks into the America six yard box but the keeper forces the Gallos man wide and another moment of tension for Ame' fans here at the Azteca.

Still now way through as America seem to lack an added gear or spark with limited ideas when trying to get through the Queretaro wall.

Twenty minutes left for Queretaro to resist the pressure as America bring on more offensive players.

Some mild unrest emanating from the stands now as the home side still fail to create openings against a well drilled Gallos Blancos rear guard.

Martin on and Valdes makes way.

Aquino off with Sanchez his replacement.

Henry Martin and Sanchez set to enter the action for America.

America still applying all the pressure and it now seems like a question of just how long Queretaro can hold out for.

25 minutes of the game remain and the side in white sitting deep now as America probe.

Valdes heads and his effort is deflected as America pile on some sustained pressure. 

Queretaro being forced to sit deeper now.

Switch for Gallos Blancos as Zuñiga leaves the pitch and is replaced by Ayon.

Duarte on too for Queretaro replacing Lopez. 

Viñas on for Rodriguez ..first switch of the night as America make their first change of the night.

Zuñiga seems to have pulled a muscle and may need to be switched.

Subs from both teams warming up now and it appears that a series of changes from America are imminent.

What a header from Aquino and an excellent stop from Alcala as the keeper palms the ball over the bar.

A really bright start to the second half.

Sepulveda almost opens the scoring as the visitors break with pace and the striker is unmarked and should have done better.

Once again Alcala steps in and punches the ball away from danger as two men in blue waited to pounce.

America seem to have started the half in a higher gear.

No changes at the break.

The second half is underway as the Gallos from Queretaro start the second half.

The teams return to the pitch and the second half is just moments away....

All square at the break

First half stats show America's dominance in possession but Queretaro ahead on chances created.

Something of a let-off for Queretaro as a poor clearance led to the passage of play ahead of the disallowed goal.

America have been disappointing with only Fidalgo looking sharp for the 'AzulCremas'.

Kevin Balanta for Gallos Blancos has been excellent in defence and instrumental in the scoreline being 0-0 at the break.

HT at the Azteca... 0-0 at the interval

VAR intervenes and correctly rules out the goal.

Less than five minutes of the half remain and this is now what was in the script in the season opener with the bottom side from the 2022 Apertura facing the team who finished top of the table in the regular season.

America go close as the ball falls to Fuentes and the defender heads wide with the goal at his mercy.

Gallos go down the other end and almost hit the opener as Zuñiga forces a fine stop from Oscar Jimenez.

​​​​​​​Sepulveda with an overhead effort as America have to dig deep to clear the danger.

Balanta gets his head in the way once again as a dangerous ball from Layun seemed to be set to cause trouble n the Gallos box.

A fantastic half from the Colombian defender.

Brian Rodriguez breaks into the area and as his effort seemed to be goal bound, in stepped Balanta to head away. 

Despite goal scoring chances being at a premium, it's a bright and open game with Queretaro giving a decent account of themselves considering they finished bottom of the 2022 Apertura table last season.

Rodriguez again goes close and this time gets a touch from Alcala ... better from Ame'

Muted call for a penalty from the men in white as Sepulveda claims he was pushed as the ball came over from the left hand side. 

Nothing going from the referee or VAR so as we were...  

Fans still streaming into the Azteca with the first half well underway .... Still far from a big crowd however as the Clausura 2023 gets underway.

With just win last season, it's admirable that the Queretaro board remained faithful with Argentine coach Mauro Genk. 

It's been a bright start from his Gallos as the visitors shoot on the Ame' goal once again with the side in white growing as the game evolves.

Madueña with the best chance of the night but the Gallos man screws the ball across the face of the goal as bore down on the America goal. The home side do look shaky at the back and seem unable to deal with the speed of the visitors on the break.

Alcala in the Gallos goal getting called into action as the keeper seems happy to use the fists to avert the danger. 

The game resumes with Queretaro on the attack with Zuñiga getting the ball to the byline but a poor delivery from the Colombian sees the move breakdown.

America showing signs of nerves in defence .... 

Queretaro 46 games away from home without a win !

A clash of heads sees the game briefly on hold as the medical from each side attend to Rodriguez (America) and Balanta (Gallos)

First chance of the evening falls to the team in white as Fidalgo breaks into the box but drives the ball over the bar. 

Queretaro starting to grow in confidence now after riding out a nervy initial opening spell.

Both Nestor Araujo and Henry Martin on the bench today for Las Aguilas which raised many eyebrows when the America XI was confirmed. Am sure it will only be a question of time when we see both Mexican international stars in action in the second half.

America dominating the early minutes of the action with the visitors unable to get a look-in with the ball.

Off we go....

The whistle sounds and the action is underway with the home side starting the game.

Far from a full house for the opener with plenty of empty seats visible at one of the stadiums where Pele was crowned World Cup champion back in 1970.

Tonight's game preceded with a minute of applause for Pelé who was laid to rest earlier this week.

Club America in all navy tonight, Queretaro in their change colours of all white. 

Kick-off at the Azteca just moments away ....

Matchday weather

It's a sunny afternoon in CDMX with a current temperature of 22C/74F and no prospect of rain during the matchday 1 action at the Azteca.

Tonight's match official

Víctor Alfonso Cáceres Hernández is tonight's match official as the 38-year-old took charge of 8 games in the 2022 Apertura season.

Less than ten minutes to go before the action gets underway at the Azteca as 'Ame' get their campaign underway against Queretaro.

Club America XI reminder

Five Mexican players start for Las Aguilas tonight with El Tri striker Henry Martin having to settle for a start from the bench.

Liga MX

Atlas-Toluca season opener runs risk of postponement

More details on the postponed Atlas-Toluca game

Matchday 1 games of the 2023 Clausura

Friday 6 January

Necaxa 2-3 San Luis

Mazatlán-León (Postponed)

Saturday 7 January

América-Querétaro

Atlas-Toluca (Postponed)

Monterrey-Chivas

Sunday 8 January

Pumas-FC Juárez

Santos-Tigres

Xolos-Cruz Azul

Monday 9 January

Pachuca-Puebla

The Atlas and Mazatlan games were postponed due to different reasons. The surface at the Estadio Jalisco was unsuitable for a high profile game with unrest in the state of Sinaloa leading to the Mazatlan game being called off.

The Club America 4-4-2 against the 4-3-3 set to be employed by the side from Queretaro.

Angel Sepulveda will be the main source of attacking threat for the visitors.

A Queretaro win currently 7/1 with few expecting the Gallos Blancos capable of delivering a major Liga MX 2023 Clausura opening day surprise.

Team news: Queretaro XI

Mauro Gerk has selected the following 11 players to do battle and aim to pull off a shock at the Estadio Azteca...

Alcalá, Fernández, Rojas, López, Hernández, Madueña, Rivera, Balanta, Sepúlveda, Barrera & Zúñiga.

Team news: America XI

Fernando Ortiz's first America starting line up of the new season features: Jiménez, Fuentes, Reyes, Cáceres, Layún, Aquino, Rodríguez, Fidalgo, Valdés, Zendejas & Rodríguez.

Gallos Blancos away trips

MD1- America

MD2- Puebla

MD5- Chivas

MD7- Rayados

MD9 – Necaxa

MD11- San Luis

MD14- Xolos

MD16- Santos Laguna

America locker room at Azteca

Las Aguilas will sport their blue shirts this evening at the Azteca with less than an hour to the new season kick-off in CDMX.

All set for matchday 1

The Aguilas (eagles) taking on the Gallos Blancos (white cockerels) in the Liga MX 2023 Clausura with 17 games of the regular season ahead.

Queretaro make their way to the Azteca

The Gallos Blancos expedition head to the stadium as the clock ticks down towards the first game of the new season for both sides.

The 2023 Clausura campaign kicked off last night with San Luis recording a 2-3 win away to Necaxa.

America-Queretaro (recent meetings)

August 2022, Liga MX: Querétaro 0-1 Club América

March 2022, Liga MX: Club América 1-1 Querétaro

July 2021, Liga MX: Querétaro 0-0 Club América

February 2021, Liga MX: Querétaro 1-2 Club América

September 2021, Liga MX: Club América 2-2 Querétaro

America have lost just one of their last 10 Liga MX meetings with Querétaro.

Club América eye Clausura title

Helped by a club-record nine-game winning streak, Club América topped the regular-season table in impressive fashion in the Apertura 2022.

However, Fernando Ortiz’s men then succumbed to the ‘curse of the superlíder’ in the playoffs, losing out to eventual runners-up Toluca in the semi-finals. In the Liga MX’s short-tournament era, the league-phase champions have now managed to win the postseason just eight out of 52 times.

The Liga MX’s most decorated club with 13 league championships, América last lifted the Mexican title in the Clausura 2018.

Gallos Blancos make the news for the wrong reason

In March, 2022, during a match between Querétaro and Atlas, a riot broke out between fans attending the match at Querétaro's stadium with subsequent video footage showing harrowing images of home fans beating and dragging Atlas supporters with at least 22 men seriously injured.

A ban was issued on Queretaro fans fans from attending home matches for up to a year.

Queretaro in Apertura 2022

Saturday’s visitors to Mexico City came rock bottom of the Apertura 2022 regular-season table, missing out on the Liga MX playoffs for the third straight tournament.

Querétaro failed to win any of their first nine games of the tournament, and ended up with just one victory to their name as they registered a paltry nine points from 17 matches.

The visitors are looking for their first away win in Liga MX in 46 games.... we have to go back to February 2020 for the last away win for Queretaro as the Gallos Blancos beat Necaxa 2-3.

Hello and a very welcome ahead of tonight's live Liga MX game as the 2023 Clausura season gets underway with the 'Gallos Blancos' from Queretaro heading to the capital to face America