After getting results during the week, a pair of recent Liga MX champions hope to build on those three points and get going after slow starts.
Chivas has just one victory this season but earned their fifth point by securing a 2-2 draw against Queretaro on Wednesday on a late goal from Alan Pulido.
Pachuca had four points from its first five matches but has run off a pair of consecutive victories, and with Tuzos getting into a rhythm manager Diego Alonso will like his chances of making it three straight.
But will Chivas snap out of their slump and defend home turf?
| Game | Chivas vs. Pachuca |
| Date | Saturday, February 17 |
| Time | 10:06 p.m. ET |
| Stream (U.S. only) | fuboTV (7-day free trial) |
LIVE STREAM
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SQUADS & TEAM NEWS
| Position | Chivas players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Rodriguez, Cota, Jimenez |
| Defenders | Alanis, Slacido, Pereira, Marin, Hernandez, Sanchez, Basulto |
| Midfielders | Pineda, Lopez, Sandoval, Benitez, Pizarro, Perez, Cervantes, O. Macias |
| Forwards | Pulido, Brizuela, Zaldivar, C. Cisneros, R. Cisneros, J. Macias |
Center backs Carlos Salcido and Hedgardo Marin remain out with injuries and are not in Chivas's squad.
Potential starting XI: Cota; Sanchez, Pereira, Alanis, Hernandez; Perez, Pineda; Lopez, Pizarro, C. Cisneroa; Pulido
| Position | Pachuca players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Blanco, Perez, Romero |
| Defenders | Esquivel, Gonzalez, Lopez, Garcia, Martinez, Murillo, Pena, Herrera, Villegas, Wbias |
| Midfielders | Honda, Guzman, Sagal, Gimenez, Aguirre, Gutierrez, Hernandez, Figueroa, Lopez, Gomez |
| Forwards | Calero, Jara, Ayala, Reyes, Palacios |
Omar Gonzalez is getting closer to returning from injury but remains unavailable. Victor Guzman is out for the season after tearing his ACL.
Potential starting XI: Blanco; Lopez, Pena, Murillo, Martinez; Hernandez; Honda, Sanchez, Gutierrez, Aguirre; Sagal
GAME PREVIEW
Is there hope on the horizon?
Both Chivas and Pachuca had disappointing endings to 2017 and miserable starts to the new year. Things may be changing, though.
It definitely seems so for Tuzos, who have won two straight matches.
Diego Alonso has turned to a new batch of talented young players, and they've responded. The 'Three Ericks" of Gutierrez, Sanchez and Aguirre all contributed to a 2-0 victory over Tijuana during the week, and Angelo Sagal is starting up front instead of Franco Jara.
Chivas pulled a draw out of the fire against Queretaro, with Alan Pulido scoring in stoppage time to make sure El Rebano Sagrado didn't leave with nothing.
Manager Matias Almeyda made midweek rotations, bringing Rodolfo Pizarro off the bench and handing a start to 18-year-old forward Jose Juan Macias. The regulars may come back into the lineup, but the back four likely will remain the same with Carlos Salcido and Hedgardo Marin both unavailable.
The biggest obstacle to Chivas getting a victory seems to be that the match is being played in front of their home supporters. Chivas's last home league win came back in October 2017. They've lost all three games at Estadio Chivas so far this tournament.