Club América will face Toluca this Sunday, January 15, 2017 (2:00 PM Pacific) in their first league game since the Apertura 2016 final loss to Tigres back on Christmas day. Many notable members of the side that finished runners-up are gone now, including Moises Muñoz and Rubens Sambueza. Las Aguilas will presumably line-up in a typical 4-4-2 formation in their battle to earn their first points in the Liga MX Clausura 2017. Here are the most likely eleven to be picked for Sunday’s game:
Goalkeeper: Agustín Marchesín
In from Santos Laguna, the new keeper will likely have a lot to do this season unless América’s defense (the worst of any playoff team) improves from last year.
Left Back: Miguel Samudio
Samudio missed much of the Apertura due to injury, and the team can only hope his presence will improve the club’s defensive record.
Center Backs: Pablo Aguilar and Paolo Goltz
Aguilar played nearly every minute of the 2016 Apertura season, and barring injury you can expect him to do the same in the Clausura. Goltz settled down as a regular for the team last year, and while he wasn’t as ever-present as Aguilar he still played over 1100 minutes.
Right Back: Bruno Valdéz
Valdéz put in a very good effort during the finals last season, scoring a goal and playing every single minute of the two-legged series.
Left Midfielder: Michael Arroyo
Mikey Arroyo was sort of a twelfth man for América last season, but as the Apertura went on he found the net more and more often.
Center Midfielders: William Da Silva and José Daniel Guerrero
William put in a very solid season last year. Guerrero was a regular for the team during the Apertura and should retain his role.
Right Midfielder: Renato Ibarra
Ibarra has a reputation as a player who thinks too fast for his own body. If he can better control his talent he will become a tremendous threat for América.
Strikers: Oribe Peralta and Silvio Romero
A terrifying duo up front for any defense in the league. The new ‘Capitan Azulcrema’ Peralta netted a hat-trick against Toluca the last time these two teams played.
