La Liguilla Runners and Riders

A rather nasty ear infection, along with one or two other reasons (like laziness), has prevented me from updating this blog in the last month, but just in case anyone out there in the bloggoverse is reading tonight (Weds 2nd) sees the first legs of the quarter finals of Mexico's Clausura 2012. América travel to Pachuca to open proceedings, followed by Monterrey's visit to Tijuana. Tomorrow night Jaguares entertain Santos, followed by Tigres v Morelia.

The away sides in the first legs are all at least nominal favourites in each of the ties, by virtue of finishing higher in the league table. An aggregate draw over two legs will take the higher placed team through to the semi finals. Having said all that only nine points separated first place from eighth in the final table, so no gulf in class exists within the qualifiers. Santos will be trying to conquer the curse of the superlider, as the team who finishes first rarely if ever wins the tournament.

Notable absentees from the knock out stage are Chivas, Cruz Azul and Pumas - only América of Mexico's big four have made it through. Cruz Azul's failure to beat América in the final league fixture sealed their fate, but Pumas were never really in contention at any stage. The Chivas "revival" was a false dawn - they lost their last five fixtures, including the superclásico and a paricularly ignominious defeat at Tigres which saw three of their players sent off, amongst them Olympic squad members Erick Torres and Marco Fabian. Chivas' Guadalajara neighbours Tecos Estudiantes were the relegated team. To complete the misery for the country's second city Atlas finished the tournament having scored just seven goals in 17 games, only a resolute defence maintaining their Primera Division status.

Predictions? As always predictions in Mexican football are open to derision, due to the inconsistency of the teams. I'll go for Tigres to be the only home team in the first legs to go through, mainly because Lucas Lobos has maintained his form through their recent stutter but also because Morelia's top scorer Miguel Sabah hasn't played for a month due to injury. América should have too much for Pachuca, though they are too dependent on Chucho Benitez for goals (14 out of 30 in the league stage).

Tijuana might fancy their chances against Monterrey, who last week overcame Santos to retain the CONCACAF Champions League. Santos need to pick themselves up and conquer the curse of the superlider, but Jaguares strikers Jackson Martinez and Luis Rey (eight goals each) will exploit any weekness in the Santos defence. Tijuana's qualification is a tremendous achievement in their first season at this level. Hopefully their success will continue, and their stadium will experience the kind of development that will enable this Brit in Baja to get hold of a match ticket occasionally!

Hasta luego...