What to look out for on matchday 13 of the 2023 Liga MX Clausura

The 2023 Clausura is back after a FIFA window that saw Diego Cocca make his debut on the Mexico bench as El Tri progressed to the Concacaf Nations League Final Four with a win over Suriname and a 2-2 draw vs. Jamaica at the Azteca. With just five games to go in the regular season phase, these are the highlights coming up on matchday 13.

Clásico Tapatío

The Jalisco derby also known as the Clásico Tapatío sees Chivas face Atlas in one of the most anticipated games in the city of Guadalajara and across the nation. Chivas sit in seventh position and come into the derby on the back of two defeats and will desperately need the win to boost their chances of securing a top four spot. Atlas, meanwhile are having an indifferent campaign and hold the 12th position currently but have only amassed 12 points from twelve games.

Prediction: Atlas 1-2 Chivas

Pumas aiming for the playoffs

After the dismissal of Rafael Puente Jr as head coach of Pumas, the university club appointed Antonio Mohamed in a bid to revive the club’s fortunes. The Argentine will miss the game in Queretaro for personal reasons with the objective for the club to secure a top 12 finish and maintain a postseason push in the playoffs. The Gallos Blancos are enduring another wretched season and languish close to the foot of the table and despite just one win all season, the side from El Estadio Corregidora are just two points off 12th place.

Prediction: Queretaro 0-1 Pumas

Mazatlán stay alive

Such is the situation at the bottom of the Liga MX table that bottom side Mazatlán, who have only four points to their name all season with just one win and one draw and ten defeats are still mathematically in with a chance of progressing top postseason. This weekend, they travel to face Atlético de San Luis but it’s now time for the Sinaloa based side to start to accrue the wins that could keep their season alive.

Prediction: Atlético San Luis 1-1 Mazatlán

Tough fight for fourth place

Securing a top four berth and avoiding the uncertainty of the play-in round is the objective for sides in the top reach of the table. Toluca, Pachuca, Tigres and Chivas will all be anxious to secure a top four placing and the Red Devils from Toluca face Tigres UANL this weekend with both teams anxious for the win and deprive a direct rival the chance of getting points on the board with just a handful of games remaining in the regular season.

Prediction: Toluca 0-0 Tigres

León and América battle it out in CDMX

Second placed Club León face third placed América at the Azteca this weekend in arguably the most attractive fixture of matchday 13. Both teams will be desperate to bag a top four finish with just three points currently separating La Fiera in second from Chivas who lie in seventh place with 21 points.

Prediction: America 1-1 Leon