A new season of the Liga MX is about to begin this Friday when Xolos vs Santos Laguna and Monarcas vs Toluca kick-off this Friday, January 10. It seems like we did not get a break from Mexican soccer as just days ago Monterrey were crowned Apertura 2019 champions against Club America. Yet in all honesty, weekends without the always fun Liga MX are not as fun, so we are excited for what this new season can bring.
Like the usual, most teams have made a great number of transfers ahead of the January 31 international transfer deadline. This will lead to another competitive season in which almost any team can make the playoffs. Futnsoccer has chosen who is favorite to be crowned in the new season. This of course, is based on pure scientific guesstimation.
3. Club America
The ‘aguilas’ had a tremendous Apertura 2019 where they finished 6th in the regular standings with 31 points, and lost in the final against ‘rayados’ in penalty kicks. The team coached by Miguel Herrera always enters a season as a title favorite, yet, the team has not made any important signings apart from Alonso Escoboza and Luis Fuentes. Most likely new players will join the team, but the reality is the attack under Federico Viñas and Henry Martin is not the best in the league. While the team from ‘coapa’ will once again contend, this season they will not even reach the final.
2. Tigres UANL
It is hard to make a list of title contenders without the always contending TI-GUE-RES. The team coached by the always amiable Ricardo Ferretti finished 3rd in the standings with 32 points, to later be eliminated by Club America in the quarterfinals. The ‘felinos’ have a well-rounded team with stars in every position, even on the bench. They added Nicolas Lopez from Brazil’s SC Internacional, improving an already powerful offense. Futnsoccer scientifically predicts Tigres will be a finalist, but not the champion!
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— Rayados (@Rayados) December 30, 2019
1. Club Monterrey
Yes, Monterrey was just crowned champions to end what was a wonderful 2019. And yes, becoming a ‘bicampeon’ in Mexican soccer is one of the most difficult things to achieve. However, Antonio Mohamed is back, and more confident and stronger than ever. Rayados have not made any tranfers, and even if they kept the same squad they will still be favored to win the title. This team is well-coached by Mexico’s future national team manager (again, a scientific estimate), has a well balanced squad which battled gallantly against Liverpool in the Club World Cup, and has an outstanding fanbase to root along the whole way.
While many things can happen between now and the end of the Clausura 2020, Monterrey has the most tools to win the new season. In a perfect world, we will see a historic Tigres vs Monterrey final; but we will have to see.
