Hard to believe this rivalry is taking place after only three weeks of training but CHIVAS and CLUB AMERICA will get it going tonite in the SUPERLIGA before a sell-out crowd at ROBERTSON STADIUM.
Both teams had dissapointed MFL campaigns last year failing to make the playoffs. CHIVAS in particular was hit with the loss of OMAR BRAVO and MAZA RODRIGUEZ to Europe and that was complicated with an injury crisis.

Don’t let the fact that underneath the surface teams grumble about the timing of this tournament. Tonite will be a war.

So what have these teams done in the off-season transfer window. CLUB AMERICA has gone out and spent 20 MILLION DOLLARS on players and all the new editions are expected to play tonite.
PAVEL PARDO returns from STUTTGART in GERMANY after two plus years and will bring vital leadership back to a team that needs it.
Striker ROBERT De PINHO is expected to produce goals and the Brazilian once played at TECOS and PSV EINDHOVEN. Fans also will remember the talented COLOMBIAN ANDRES CHITIVA who played at PACHUCA.
Nine players are out at CLUB AMERICA including the ARGENTINE FEDERICO INSUA who has been off-loaded to NECAXA who is also owned along with CLUB AMERICA by TELEVISA. Being sent to NECAXA in the world of CLUB AMERICA is like being sent to the reserve squad and INSUA has been very vocal in the MEXICAN press about this move.
Still AMERICA has favorites like SALVADOR CABANAS and GUILLERMO OCHOA.

CHIVAS have three changes adding Champion SERGIO PONCE a midfielder from TOLUCA, CARLOS OCHOA from MONTERREY and a face familiar to many in PANCHITO MENDOZA of CHIVAS USA. These players go along with familiar names like GONZALO PINEDA, HECTOR REYNOSO at the back and legendary player RAMON MORALES.

Quickly back to MENDOZA, expect him to be kept long term by CHIVAS so that will be another plug that CHIVAS USA will have to fill. Manager EFRAIN FLORES is very pleased with his play and he made that clear to me in a two-hour discussion I had with him last night at the hotel here in Houston.
I will air an interview with him Wednesday night on 790thesportsanimal on DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS at 7pm.

My prediction tonite is CHIVAS over CLUB AMERICA because of the fact that they have had made fewer changes. Being a friend of EFlores since during years of youth work I also am pulling for his success. What is your predicition and why?