In an action-packed opening weekend in Liga MX, Atletico San Luis will take on Monterrey at Estadio Alfonso Lastras Ramirez on Sunday.
The hosts just made the cut for the final series playoffs in last season's Clausura campaign, edging out Santos Laguna on goal difference, while the visitors ended the season at the top of the pile and six points clear of Club America in second place.
Match preview
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After finishing last season in 12th place, Atletico San Luis went into the Reclassification round as one of the biggest outsiders, having recorded only five wins in their 17 league matches and managing just 19 points in total.
Following their win over Leon in the first knockout round, they came within minutes of forcing a penalty shootout in the quarter-final but were denied by an 88th-minute goal from Club America's Brian Rodriguez that clinched a 4-3 aggregate victory for his side.
Over both phases last season, Atletico San Luis managed a combined tally of six wins, five draws and six losses in 17 league matches at home, scoring 18 and conceding 20 in that time.
Leading up to this season, Los Atleticos were dealt a major blow with Andre Jardine announcing that he would be leaving the side to join Club America less than three weeks before the start of the new campaign.
Jardine's abrupt departure saw the Atletico San Luis board having to scramble to find a replacement, but they managed to do so fairly quickly, appointing Gustavo Leal to the hot seat, and at 36 years of age, the Brazilian is now the second youngest coach in Liga MX behind Eduardo Arce (34).
Leal made a positive start in his new role, recording a 2-1 win and a 2-2 draw in their pre-season matches, and he will be hoping that he can keep his unbeaten record intact in his first competitive match in charge.
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Meanwhile, Monterrey will look back at last season as a huge step in the right direction after a very poor 2021/22 campaign where they only managed seventh place and finished 12 points behind league winners Pachuca.
They were beaten by Club America by just three points in Apertura last year but came back in fine style in the second stretch of the season, winning 13 of their 17 matches and securing the top spot with a game to spare.
Unfortunately, despite enjoying two excellent campaigns, Rayados were unable to turn their league records into titles, making it only as far as the semi-final in the final phase, where they ran into a resilient Tigres UANL and were beaten 2-1 after the two-legged encounter.
Monterrey produced the second-best away record last season, with 10 wins, four draws and three losses in 17 matches, and conceded just 21 goals in that time, which was the lowest of any side in the league.
The visitors have been vastly superior in this encounter over the last few years and have not been beaten by this opponent in regulation time in their last three meetings, which includes doing the double over them last season.
Team News
Leal will have almost a full contingent to choose from in his first league match, with the only injury concern being over the fitness of Leo Bonatini, who is suffering from an ankle sprain.
Fernando Leon has ended his loan spell with Emelec and returned to Atletico San Luis in time for their season opener, and is in contention for selection.
In the opposite dugout, Fernando Ortiz will have to make do without Arturo Gonzalez for a while longer as the midfielder is recovering from knee surgery and is likely to be out for at least another month.
The Monterrey boss should send out an unchanged side to the one he fielded in their pre-season friendly with German Berterame in attack and Erick Aguirre in the number 10 role.
Atletico San Luis possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Chavez, Garcia, Bilbao, Sanabria; Villalpando, Dourado, Guemez; Vitinho, Murillo, Zaldivar
Monterrey possible starting lineup:
Andrada; Medina, Guzman, Moreno, Gallardo; Meza, Ortiz, Romo, Aguirre, Mori; Berterame
We say: Atletico San Luis 1-2 Monterrey
The visitors were excellent last season but seemed to run out of steam in the final phase, which ultimately cost them a title shot. However, having had over a month of rest and opting for just one pre-season match, they should be raring to go in this one, and we feel that they will get off to a winning start.
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