Gago And Demichelis Meet Again In Attractive Guadalajara-Monterrey Clash

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Argentine coaches Fernando Gago and Martín Demichelis, once teammates as soccer players, will meet again this weekend when their teams, Guadalajara and Monterrey, will meet in an attractive match on the tenth day of the Apertura-2024 Mexican soccer tournament.

On Saturday at the Akron stadium, the Chivas del Guadalajara will host the Rayados del Monterrey in a clash between two teams that aim to reach the finals directly.

Both teams will appear in this match located in the league zone: Monterrey is in third place with 20 points and Guadalajara is sixth with 14 points.

Chivas come into this match with the intention of making up for the 1-0 defeat suffered the previous day against the leader Cruz Azul. The ‘Flock’ would have obtained a better result if it had not been for seven very dangerous opportunities that were canceled by the rival goalkeeper.

In its second tournament under Gago’s command, Guadalajara has had a positive balance between its offensive production (14 goals scored) and its defensive security (seven goals conceded).

“We have to try to correct and move forward,” said Gago ahead of the game against Monterrey.

For their part, Demichelis’ Rayados did not go beyond a goalless draw at home against the modest Mazatlán.

Demichelis arrived at Mexican football with the current tournament underway and received a Monterrey team that was already placed at the top of the standings.

For the Argentine coach, Saturday’s game against Chivas will be only the sixth in the Aztec league.

Demichelis’ Monterrey has scored 14 goals and has conceded 12 in this championship.

At 38 years old, Fernando Gago is currently the youngest coach in Mexican soccer. Demichelis has been mayor for five years.

In the history of both as players, there is a team in common: the Argentina team, which participated together in the 2014 Brazil World Cup and the Copa América the following year.

As rivals they faced each other in the first division of Spain in 2011 and 2012. Demichelis playing for Málaga played against Gago for both Real Madrid and Valencia.

The only confrontation they have had as coaches took place on July 28, 2023 with a 2-1 victory for River, led by Demichelis, against Racing de Gago.

Full time. Friday: Puebla-Juárez, Querétaro-Necaxa, Tigres-León, Tijuana-Mazatlán, Toluca-Atlas, Pachuca-Cruz Azul, Guadalajara-Monterrey, Atlético San Luis-Santos. Sunday: América-Pumas.

Classification:

– JGEP GF GC Diff Pts

1. Cruz Azul 22 9 7 1 1 19 6 13

2. Tigers 20 9 6 2 1 12 4 8

3.Monterrey 20 10 6 2 2 14 12 2

4. Toluca 18 9 5 3 1 17 9 8

5. Pumas 16 9 5 1 3 13 10 3

6.Guadalajara 14 9 4 2 3 14 7 7

7. Atlético San Luis 14 10 4 2 4 15 12 3

8. Atlas 14 9 4 2 3 11 11 0

9.Tijuana 14 9 4 2 3 14 16 -2

10. America 13 9 4 1 4 12 11 1

11. Necaxa 12 9 3 3 3 13 8 5

12. Puebla 11 10 3 2 5 12 16 -4

13. Pachuca 9 9 2 3 4 8 13 -5

14.Saints 8 9 2 2 5 8 14 -6

15. Mazatlán 7 9 1 4 4 6 10 -4

16. Leon 7 9 1 4 4 8 14 -6

17. Querétaro 7 10 2 1 7 7 18 -11

18. Juárez 4 9 1 1 7 9 21 -12

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