Isaac Brizuela ruled out of Clausura 2024 opener

Bad news for Guadalajara. With the Clausura 2024 about to begin, the club has already suffered a significant loss. Just four days before the opening game against Santos Laguna, it was confirmed that Isaac Brizuela will miss the game through injury.

A medical report explained: “The sports science management of Guadalajara reports on the status of Isaac Brizuela, who had discomfort during training prior to the start of Clausura 2024. Yesterday imaging studies were carried out on Isaac to follow up to a discomfort that he reported to his right hamstring”.

An update gave more details of Brizuela’s injury, although no estimate as to when he might return to the field of play was given - just that he will not be available on Saturday. “Brizuela has tendinopathy of the hamstring tendon and has already started rehabilitation work. The forecast will be subject to evolution,” the club stated. In layman’s terms, the player has strained the muscle from overexertion, causing microtears which will take time to heal.

With Fernando Gago’s arrival, the experienced winger hopes to keep his starting place in the team. Brizuela regained a regular place when Alexis Vega was sidelined from the team for indiscipline. Under the new coach, there were doubts about whether he would bet on a young player like Jesús Brígido or stick with an experienced veteran like Brizuela. Last year, Brígido made just nine appearances without completing a full game. He ended with a total of 263 minutes on-field, and one goal.