LIGA MX
Chivas given Orozco and Rangel injury boosts before Liga MX Apertura 2023 playoffs
Veljko Paunovic will be able to call upon the young duo for the “liguilla” quarter-final games against Pumas.
The timings of the international break and the Liga MX play-in round looks as if they might work out rather well for Chivas. Although they won’t have played for 17 days by the time the Apertura 2023 playoffs get underway, which could lead to some rustiness, the layoff will at least allow two injured players to come back to full fitness.
Raúl Rangel and Jesús Orozco have resumed full training with the rest of the group, a big boost for head coach Veljko Paunovic, who had both down as first-choice starters at the time of their injuries. The duo are in contention to face Pumas in the first leg of the liguilla quarter-finals on 29 November.
Rangel sidelined after impressive breakthrough
Goalkeeper Rangel had only just forced his way into the team before suffering a fractured cheekbone in a collision with Atlas’ Antonio Briseño in El Clásico Tapatío on matchday 12. The youngster had to undergo surgery but recently returned to training recently wearing a protective mask, which he has even been able to dispose of in the last few days.
Rangel’s first-team debut had come a week earlier when he put in a superb performance in a 1-1 draw at Toluca, which convinced Paunovic to persist with him ahead of Miguel Jiménez in the following game.
Orozco fully fit ahead of Apertura 2023 playoffs
Orozo, meanwhile, was struck by a recurrence of muscle injury the following week (matchday 13) and hasn’t played since. After starting the first 10 games of the tournament, he missed the win over Atlas but returned to face Puebla, which proved to be too soon.
The central defender played only 17 minutes at Estadio Cuauhtémoc before being withdrawn and hasn’t featured since, missing the next four games. His recovery has, however, gone smoothly and there appears to be a good chance of him starting when Pumas visit Estadio Akron.
Rangel or Jiménez in goal against Pumas?
Rangel is arguably less likely to regain his spot in the starting eleven given everything that is at stake in the liguilla, with his lack of experience possibly counting against him. Although he hasn’t put a foot wrong for Chivas, he has only played in two Liga MX matches, which could lead to Jiménez keeping his place in goal.