After Club America reclaimed the Liga MX Apertura throne in December, the Mexican top flight returns for a Clausura season full of rebuilds and possible superteams.
With the 2024 Liga MX Clausura season only days away from kickoff, the gears are winding up for what could be a year of comebacks for some and failures for others.
After all, 2024 is a big year for Liga MX. With the second annual Leagues Cup in the summer and a CONCACAF Champions Cup tournament with the biggest Club World Cup qualification on the line, the clubs will have to be in the best shape possible.
With that in mind, we’ll take you through what we think are some marquee teams and what they have to offer this season.
Reclaiming the Throne
Las Aguilas del America built arguably one of the strongest squads last season. Spearheaded by the likes of Julian Quiñones and Jonathan Dos Santos, Club America is still the team to beat.
Head coach Andre Jardine faced criticism when he first joined America. There were doubts surrounding the Brazilian’s ability to lead the club to a 14th title. However, it only took one season to prove everyone wrong. Fresh off an exhibition win against FC Barcelona in Dallas, America seems to be by far the best team in the league coming into this season.
Given that America is good at reinforcing its roster in between seasons, we could see even more big names joining the squad soon.
The Return of El Rebaño Sagrado
Chivas have been making the rounds on the transfer market. Over the last two weeks it has been rumored that hometown hero Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez is set to make his return after 14 years abroad.
Adding to that speculation, United States men’s national team forward Cade Cowell is in the midst of a deal with Chivas, and if both deals go through, the foundation is set for a team that can be a serious contender coming off of a disappointing Apertura campaign. With Fernando Gago at the helm, Chivas’ new project could bring the long-awaited 13th title.
El Fútbol Regio’s Dominance over Liga MX
Despite America’s title over Tigres, the growth of both Monterrey and UANL have been essential to the success of fútbol in the region and the country.
Therefore, you can not write a preview without including both teams as contenders to win it all. Last year, Tigres made it to three finals and won two of them. Monterrey, on the other hand, haven’t quite lived up to their potential but their squad remains one of the most expensive in the region.
A Resurgence in the University
One of last season’s biggest surprises was Pumas. After a series of disappointing seasons, the UNAM team made it to playoff semifinals with the help of a very inspired Chino Huerta. If the club can find an adequate replacement for Antonio Mohamed, it can go back to its winning ways.
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With the first Liga MX Clausura match kicking off Friday, this season is set to be yet another drama-filled campaign with plenty of storylines. We’re ready to see some golazos!
