Mexican Apertura Preview: Chivas vs. Tigres

Chivas will be debuting at home against Tigres for the second round of the Mexican Apertura 2009. The previous week Chivas lost in the last moments of the game against Toluca, while Tigres drew 1-1 against Puebla.

Several players are in doubt for the clash, while Hector Reynoso will miss the game against Tigres due to his red card from the game against Toluca. Xavier Baez, who missed the first game due to disciplinary reasons from last season, will be back for the home game. However, there are doubts that ‘Chicharo’ Hernandez and goalkeeper Luis Michel will be able to play.

Hernandez missed training due to muscle fatigue although is more certain to feature, but Michel had a few problems with his muscles as well. In case of his absence from the game, Victor Hugo Hernandez would step up as a replacement.

“He(Michel) had a few bothers in the muscle. Today in the morning we did some tests. There’s no tear, no hyperextension, there’s just a contracture and some swelling,“ said club doctor Narciso Lopez. “So we’ll try and see if we are able to take down the swelling today and tomorrow, and conduct some tests tomorrow to see if he can participate(in the game). Either way he’s gone into concentration with the team.”

Johnny Magallon once more joined up with the team after his time with the national team, and pointed out the importance of the first win at the Jalisco Stadium.

“Lately things got complicated because home results gave us trouble, but we have to keep on with home advantage. I think that’s fundamental. In the seasons that we’ve been in the Liguilla it’s been mostly because we’ve won the majority of our games at home. We have to start winning at home. It’s complicated, but I think we can do it,” said Johnny Magallon.

Lucas Ayala, from Tigres, is expecting more open play in the game against Chivas, opposed the opening game against Puebla.

“I think that it’s always much better to come up against a team like Chivas. It’s a very distinct team to what Puebla can become. They’re more open, they try to play more as a home team. There’s going to be more space for our players at the top of the field to try and cause some damage.”

Recovering from injury, Lucas Lobos hopes to be back against Chivas, but downplays the talk of his extreme importance to the team.

“It’s clear that we don’t just depend on me. We’re a team here, there’s a good quality of players and we have to try and show that.”