It is a reality that Chivas has performed well so far in the Clausura 2023, as shown by their numbers after 8 Matchdays played, they are in fifth place overall with 15 points, the result of 4 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat.
Now, beyond being the third best defense and the best away team so far in the tournament, what has led Guadalajara to be a protagonist so far this season? What were the keys to beating Pumas? We break it down below:
The match's procedure
Everything started in the best possible way for the Rebaño, as they took the lead in the first few minutes with a goal by Daniel Ríos, thanks to a great play between Ronaldo, Mozo and 'Piojo'.
From that point on, Pumas took the initiative with the ball, but failed to generate many chances.
Minutes later, Guadalajara struck a second time by taking advantage of the fixed tactic, which proved to be lethal for the Universitarios, who, despite repeated attempts, were unable to get back on their feet.
Chivas' second half
To focus only on the Pumas goal and the last-minute save by 'Wacho' would be to ignore the whole picture. The Rebaño's second half was very good, thanks to Veljko Paunovic's wise adjustments.
There were some inaccuracies that prevented Guadalajara from extending their lead, but they generated dangerous situations near the front and showed good control of the situation almost all the time.
In addition to what was done with the ball, it is worth highlighting how well El Chiverío defended the opponent's transitions. And 'Oso' González is at a very high level when defending the width of the field and putting pressure on the rival.
The change that strengthened the match plan
The first adjustment was the entrance of Fernando Beltrán who was vital in generating progressions in short spaces, in addition to the fact that in his interventions he always generated something. He came close to scoring a goal on 2 occasions and was a valve that released the pressure exerted by Pumas. This is excellent news, as he was coming from not having played against Xolos.
Highlights:
Roberto Alvarado: His grades were sky high against Pumas, he influenced every Guadalajara attack. He showed a very interesting side by playing as an inside player who dropped to the wing and managed to register 1 assist. In addition, 'Piojo' was used as a false 9 in the final stretch of the match and also helped the team with his support so that Chivas could flow with the ball.
Alan Mozo: He is getting better and better in defensive duels and that obviously helps Guadalajara's front line. However, there are other things in which Alan has contributed a lot, such as the impact of his good receptions, his inside runs and the associations he generates with close teammates.
Miguel Jiménez: 'Wacho' was once again a factor and this does not mean that the Rebaño's goal has been bombarded. This means that he has appeared at the right time to prevent the team from dropping points. The last minute save vouches for him.
Special mentions:
- Daniel Ríos scored his first goal with Chivas and that will undoubtedly fill the striker with confidence for the upcoming matches.
- Ronaldo Cisneros is looking better and better on the wing. This role has suited him well, both for his speed, his descents and his runs. The first goal came from his feet, after passing the ball to Mozo.
- Carlos Cisneros celebrated his tenth anniversary as a professional player with a goal.
