Brian Bahr - Getty Images
Chivas Guadalajara are without some of their best players for the Super Clasico. They're in a virtual must-win situation, away from home, against their biggest rivals.
It's been another tough season by Chivas Guadalajara, who have been plagued by injuries and poor performances that just don't make any sense. There are only a couple of teams in Liga MX who can match them for raw talent, but since their shock Liguilla exit against Queretaro two seasons ago, they haven't been able to pull that talent together. They're significant underdogs for the Super Clasico against their biggest rivals, Club America.
America have hardly been consistent and there's no excuse for them to be so far behind Club Tijuana and Toluca, two clubs who don't have nearly the top-end talent or depth of the Super Aguilas, but the Mexican league system allows them a bit of slack. They're firmly in Liguilla playoff places, even though the race is tight. They're three points ahead of ninth place, but they have a solid amount of leeway given the number of teams in contention for the top eight spots.
Chivas are currently on the outside of Liguilla looking in, and a decent result on Saturday could spark a charge up the table. They sit in 11th place on 13 points, just two points back of 8th. A draw would be a decent result for Chivas, but a loss could be devastating. It's not uncommon for one of these teams to be on the edge of Liguilla when they meet, only to have their season jump-started or completely ruined by their result in the Super Clasico.
America injuries and suspensions
Out: Efrain Juarez, Raul Jimenez
Chivas injuries and suspensions
Out: Xavier Baez, Omar Arellano. In doubt: Luis Perez, Marco Fabian
Injuries might dictate that youngsters Victor Perales and Luis Morales get thrown right into the fire for Chivas. Erick Torres is going to have to step up his game as well. The widely lauded teenage star is having a poor season, and Chivas need him to play his best game of the year with Fabian lacking in fitness and Arellano definitely out. Efrain Juarez looks like a big loss on paper, but America have depth at fullback and winger, and won't miss him too much, regardless of how he would have been deployed.
Match Date/Time: 5 p.m. local, 6 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
TV: Univision
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