Benevolent Clausura 2023 start for América, Chivas, Cruz Azul and Pumas
The so-called “big four” of Mexican soccer will not have a start to the tournament as complicated as other participants in this contest.
The Liga MX Clausura 2023 tournament kicks-off today (Friday, 6 January) with many observers pointing to the (at least on paper) straightforward season openers for the so-called four big sides of Mexican soccer: America, Chivas, Cruz Azul and Pumas.
América will face three teams who finished in the top 10 best of the Apertura 2022: Toluca, Puebla and Santos, in rounds 2, 3 and 5 respectively, while their other two games of the fiver openers against Querétaro and Mazatlán, who struggled last season finishing bottom and 14th in the 2022 Apertura table.
Chivas del Guadalajara get their campaign underway with a trip to Monterrey in matchday 1 before facing San Luis on matchday 2 and Toluca in game 3, while his two remaining matches in the first five match days will be against Juárez on date 4 and Querétaro on the fifth.
Tijuana, Necaxa and Querétaro are three of the opponents Cruz Azul will face in their opening games of the new season with sterner tests awaiting as they face Monterrey on match day 2 and Tigres in their fifth game of the campaign.
It’s felt that Pumas are the side from the “big four” with the most benevolent opening to the 2023 Clausura and they face Santos on match day 2 ahead of a test against León on match day 3, while their other three openers to the season will see the university side face Juárez in the opener, Tijuana in their fourth game and Atlas in the 5, all three teams that failed to make the Apertura 2022 post-season.
Fans of Pachuca, Rayados de Monterrey and Tigres de la UANL all feel they have been handed a more complex start to the season as reigning champions Tuzos will face Puebla on match day 1, followed by Tigres, Necaxa and León on match day 5, while Tigres will play start against against Santos, Pachuca, San Luis, and Cruz Azul.
Monterrey face a tricky start to the season as they open at home to Chivas, then play Cruz Azul, San Luis on match day 3, followed by Puebla and Toluca with all five teams having advanced to the post season stage in the 2022 Apertura.