The curtain-raiser of the 2024-25 Liga MX season will come from Estadio Cuauhtemoc, where Puebla will play host to Santos Laguna on Friday night.
Both these sides will be hoping for a positive start to the new season after ending last term with the two worst records over the final five gameweeks.
Match preview
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Puebla fans endured a rollercoaster season last time out, as they saw their side finish the first phase in an impressive sixth place and just three points off a top-four finish.
However, the second half of the season was a complete nightmare as the side plummeted to the bottom of the league standings, finishing the phase with a single win and a paltry five points in 17 games.
Los Camoteros, perhaps unsurprisingly, saw the back of two managers during that time, with Ricardo Carbajal exiting the club in mid-February, while Andres Carevic lasted just 57 days at the helm before moving on in May.
Jose Manuel de la Torre was appointed for the final match of the season which ended in a 2-1 defeat to America, and it will be interesting to see if the former Mexico boss has managed to address the many issues his side were facing last term.
In particular, Puebla were atrocious in defence in the second half of last season, as they shipped 43 goals in their 17 Clausura matches, seven more than any other side in the division.
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Santos Laguna also had a notable drop-off in the second phase last season, ending the term in 15th place after finishing the first half of the season inside the top 10.
While Puebla had the out-and-out worst record of five consecutive losses over the last five gameweeks before the break, Guerreros were only marginally better with four defeats and a draw.
Like their opponents here, Santos also underwent a change of leadership, with Ignacio Ambriz replacing Pablo Repetto at the start of February after the Uruguayan managed just one win in six matches either side of the New Year.
Ambriz made a positive start to his new role, recording three wins, a draw and two losses in his first six matches in charge, but he will now be under pressure for results after his side's dismal run at the end of the campaign.
However, the new boss will be able to draw some confidence from the fact that his side beat Puebla home and away last season, and scored three goals in each of their last three encounters.
Team News
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De la Torre will start the new season with just one known absentee in the form of midfielder Facundo Waller, who missed a fair chunk of last season with a knee injury and is still several weeks away from a return.
Emanuel Gularte and Jorge Rodriguez were brought in from Queretaro and Deoprtivo Toluca in the offseason and could make their debuts in the four-man backline in this opening match of the campaign.
Ambriz is also down a midfielder for the first match of the new season with former Tampico Madero man Ronaldo Prieto ruled out until September with a knee injury.
Anderson Santamaria was acquired for just under £1m from Atlas during the transfer window and could partner Santiago Nunez at the heart of Santos Laguna's defence.
Puebla possible starting lineup:
Rodriguez; Garcia, Gularte, Angulo, Olmedo; Orana, Herrera, Gonzalez, De Buen; Duran, Cavallini, Velasco
Santos Laguna possible starting lineup:
Acevedo; Govea, Nunez, Santamaria; Aquino, Lopez, Carillo, Medina, Masiscal; Macias, Aguirre, Preciado
We say: Puebla 1-2 Santos Laguna
Puebla were the worst side in the top flight in the second half of the season and have not made many significant signings to suggest that a complete turnaround in performance is likely here.
Indeed Santos were far form their best during the run-in last term, but they certainly had more firepower than the hosts and we feel they will get the season off to a winning start.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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