Chivas vs Atlas - The Classic Tapatío

The football party returns to the red and white stadium. Chivas receives Atlas in another edition of the Tapatío Classic, the supremacy of Western Mexican football is played in 90 minutes, but beyond pride, there's more at stake. The success or failure of the Zorros will be disputed on the field of the hated enemy. The Rebaño has nothing to lose, other than the pride of eliminating the Zorros, while if Atlas draws, they would be 95% closer to the Mexican football playoffs.

A game of high difficulty level, either the red and white paternity continues or Atlas under 'Profe' Cruz shakes off the red and white supremacy.

The red and whites come from a nightmare season playing as hosts, in their own fort they have lost against Puebla, Lobos, Morelia, and even the worst Pumas of recent years had them on the ropes. That's why this match is a double trap, a classic against the Zorros, in the season with the worst home results makes even the most positive thinker wonder.

In the lead up to this match, Rodolfo Pizarro was clear and pointed out that many, including himself, were not up to the demands of playing in Chivas, so he lamented being prematurely eliminated, without real possibilities of going to the Liguilla.

The red and whites come from scoring three goals at home against Xolos, two of them by José Juan Macías, the gem of the Chivas academy, but Almeyda urgently asks not to contaminate him, nor make 60 thousand notes, what happens is that the tournament of the established players has been so bad, that Macías' brace is the only thing Chivas can boast about in recent months.

For the visitors, there is a desire for revenge, and Facundo Erpen says it loudly, the central defender says that this match is vital to forget about relegation and to make it into the Liguilla, it's a game, as they used to say, of six points.

"Now we have a rematch against Chivas, if you can say that because of the Copa. Not only for the Liguilla, but also for the percentage, we have created a gap with some teams, but we want to continue separating ourselves and pulling rivals from up there. The objectives we have had from the beginning we have achieved, but we have also committed many mistakes, injuries, other factors that should not happen to anyone in their life, like Rafa's, then that streak of six games without winning, we have had everything, hopefully we get the joy of winning and we can qualify for the Liguilla."

On the other hand, Leiton Jiménez is about to receive his medical clearance after his knee surgery and the Colombian says that it hurts to be out of the call-ups, but he has worked hard and dreams of being able to return to the team in a potential Liguilla.

"Difficult, it is very complicated to be on the sidelines. Being out for these six months has been very difficult, watching the games as a fan, it's very, very tough. You never want to get injured, especially with such a strong injury and in that instance and against that rival we had, we wanted to reach the semifinals for our fans and the management, but getting injured that day hit me hard."

By the way, the novelty of Atlas is that 'Chavo' Alustiza is back in a call-up and may play on Saturday against Rebaño, after three weeks of absence.

SRN