Ricardo
Lavolpe's, Monterrey travels into Mexico City to face
América today, knowing a victory will see them finish fifth in the
Clausura season, which is a stunning turnaround from the
Apertura season when they finished second-to-last in the table. Under his
tutelage the club has captured his attacking style of play, resulting in a goal-scoring eruption of Humberto
Suazo and have additionally tightened up weak defensive links. As per
Lavolpe, the club is now a close-knit group that can perform with the best of clubs in the
Liguilla.
América is in a free-fall and it is a odd time to face them to say the least. Their season is a foul mess with only eight points and the league-worst, negative sixteen goal differential and now have interim coach Juan Antonio Luna taking over for the final two matches in the
Primera División and the
Copa Libertadores. This is clearly their worst season on record as they are
winless in their last five matches, with a
apocalyptic 13-3 combined score. The strain of playing in the
Copa Libertadores is obviously weighing heavy on them and it won’t be any easier today with them facing
Flamengo in the second leg of this round in Rio
de Janeiro on Wednesday as well after losing to them this past Wednesday. They cannot be underestimated though as based upon performances such as River Plate in the
Copa, they can prove to be an offensive threat particularly in set-plays.
However I expect Lavolpe,
the man who should be El Tri's head coach, to lead the
Rayados to another victory.
