Liga MX: Holders make statement; top two favorites stumble

Pachuca and Cruz Azul are the favourites to win Clausura 2023. The Mazatlán-León match was postponed because of security issues in Sinaloa and the Atlas-Toluca match because the field conditions were bad.

Matchday 1 of Clausura 2023 is over. Pachuca is the defending champion. The Mazatlán-León match was postponed due to security issues in Sinaloa and the Atlas-Toluca match because of poor field conditions.

Pachuca is the current Liga MX champion. Cruz Azul is second in the table.

Holders shine on home turf in opener. Nico Ibáñez scored twice to lead Tuzos to a 5-1 win over Puebla. Pachuca are first in the table. They play Tigres next. They are one of five teams with 3 points after Matchday 1. It is arguably a Liga MX Finals preview.

Aguilas finished atop the Liga MX standings last season. Rayados finished second. América and Monterrey are clear Clausura 2023 title favorites.

Neither América nor Monterrey scored in their opening games. Chivas beat Montez 1-0. Monney will play against Cruz Azul at Estadio Azteca on Saturday. America will travel to Toluca next weekend.   The Diablos Rojos eliminated Amererica in the semifinals two-and-a-half months ago.

Charlie Rodríguez scored a late goal to earn a draw for Cruz Azul. Winger Uriel Antuna and defender Julio César Domínguez did not make the trip to Tijuana. Antunai is awaiting approval of a transfer to Panathinaikos, while Domiñez threw a narco-themed birthday party for his 12-year-old son.