Club America, a team perpetually burdened by immense expectations in Liga MX, etched their name in history in December 2024 by becoming the first Mexican club ever to achieve a three-peat in the Apertura/Clausura era. Despite this monumental achievement, their current Apertura season has been met with considerable disappointment. Though they currently hold fourth place, a mere point off the league leaders, their campaign has been marred by a series of failures, including a playoff loss to Los Angeles FC that cost them a spot in the Club World Cup, and an early exit from the Leagues Cup group stage. These setbacks have created a narrative of underperformance, despite their respectable league standing.
Match Overview: Atlas vs. Club America
- Date: Sunday, August 24
- Time: 9:05 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Broadcast (English): CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Broadcast (Spanish): Univision
- Odds: Atlas +380; Draw +270; Club America -145
The pressure is intensifying on Club America`s manager, Andre Jardine, who is expected to deliver silverware this season. A crucial player in their quest is American winger Alex Zendejas, who has a respectable record of 43 goals in 163 appearances for the club. However, Zendejas has endured a challenging season, failing to score since the opening matchday against Juarez. This goal drought is particularly ill-timed, as he is reportedly motivated to impress coaches like Mauricio Pochettino in hopes of securing a spot on the World Cup squad.
The team`s offensive struggles are not limited to Zendejas. Fellow winger Brian Rodriguez has also gone three consecutive league games without finding the back of the net. While midfielder Eric Sanchez has provided some relief, the overall attack often appears predictable and lacking dynamism. The upcoming fixture against Atlas offers a significant opportunity to reverse this trend, especially considering that Atlas`s defense has conceded three or more goals in each of their last four matches.
Despite boasting a squad brimming with attacking talent, Club America has only managed to score a paltry nine goals in 11 league games, averaging a meager 0.8 goals per contest. If Zendejas and the rest of Club America`s formidable frontline cannot exploit the vulnerabilities of one of Liga MX`s weakest defenses, it will undoubtedly raise serious questions about their ability to compete for the championship this season.
