Clausura playoffs preview

By: Chris | May 8th, 2007

It’s time! On Wednesday the Final 8 gets underway, with one team taking home the Clausura title, with 7 others going home disappointed.

Matchups:

1. Pachuca vs. 8. Santos

Thursday: Pachuca at Santos - Azteca America - 7 PM ET / 6 PM CT / 4 PM PT live
Sunday: Santos at Pachuca - Azteca America - 9 PM ET / 8 PM CT / 6 PM PT live

Pachuca will be looking to add their third title in a few months with the Clausura and cement their place as the best team in Mexico at the moment. Santos, on the other hand, is just glad to be here, saving themselves from relegation on the last day of the season.

Prediction: Pachuca advances

2. Chivas vs. 7. Tigres

Wednesday: Chivas at Tigres - Telefutura - 7:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM CT / 4:30 PM PT live
Saturday: Tigres at Chivas - Telefutura - 9 PM ET / 8 PM CT / 6 PM PT live

Chivas would love to add another title to further distance themselves from America and wrest the title of Mexico’s best team from Pachuca. Tigres need to turn around an up and down regular season and use their home advantage in the first leg to have any chance.

Prediction: Chivas advance

3. América vs. 6. Atlas

Thursday: América at Atlas - Telefutura - 10 PM ET / 9 PM CT / 7 PM PT tape delay
Sunday: Atlas at América - Telefutura - 6 PM ET / 5 PM CT / 3 PM PT live

América is in a tough spot right now. They’re keeping 8 of their first-team regulars in Mexico instead of sending them to Tuesday’s Copa Libertadores game in Chile against Colo Colo, a tie in which they hold a 3-0 advantage. Atlas will be looking to take advantage of the first leg, something they need to do to have a chance. With Andres Guardado, however, anything is possible.

Prediction: Atlas advances

4. Cruz Azul vs. 5. UAG Tecos

Wednesday: Cruz Azul at UAG Tecos - Azteca America - 9:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM CT / 6:30 PM PT live
Saturday: UAG Tecos at Cruz Azul - Azteca America - 6 PM ET / 5 PM CT / 3 PM PT live

A matchup that Cruz Azul should win, but they haven’t performed up to expectations this season. With Jared Borgetti, Cesar Delgado and Miguel Sabah, they should be scoring goals aplenty, but aren’t. Emanuel Villa is still a question mark for Tecos, who have been one of the surprise packages this tournament. If Pony Ruiz, Hugo Droguett and Eduardo Lillingston can score some goals, they could surprise some folks.

Prediction: Tecos advance