• Mexico’s re-named Apertura continues with nine fixtures Friday, Saturday and Sunday
• Unfancied Tijuana in buoyant mood heading to Club America while Pumas UNAM look for second victory
• See all odds and best bets for Mexico Liga MX “Guardianes” competition Round 2

Mexico’s Liga MX is heading into its second round on Friday with Cruz Azul set to build on their impressive opening when they meet unfancied Puebla.

Cruz began the competition as second favorites behind Monterrey and secured the most significant win of the opening round with a 2-0 home defeat of  Santos Laguna, who are fifth favorites for the championship.

Monterrey began with a 3-1 home win against Toluca.

Liga MX Guardianes Round 2 Odds

All odds taken July 29. For more betting options visit DraftKings.

The Apertura section of the two-part competition has kicked off the 2020-21 season in Mexico after the 2019-20 Clausura was abandoned in May amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It has been re-named the “Guardianes” in honor of Mexico’s health workers.

However, some matches have already had to be re-scheduled after positive virus tests and the league is living in fear there could be fixture chaos ahead.

Pick 1: Club America vs Tijuana

Tijuana kicked off the tournament rated as wide +5000 16th-favorites for the 18-team competition but enjoyed an encouraging start to the Guardianes with a 3-1 win against Atlas.

They now travel to meet Club America who are fourth favorites for the competition and began with a 2-1 win away against Pachuca.

Sportsbooks have America as -125 favorites for a home win at 6:00 pm EST on Saturday with Tijuana priced at +320 and the draw at +270.

Club Tijuana give youngster iconic Ronaldo haircut from 2002 World Cup for initiation – but somehow make it even WORSE https://t.co/9VHlelQuFK

— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) July 26, 2020

That uplifting win may inspire Tijuana and the price of +270 offers promising value.

When the Clausura section of the 2019-20 tournament was suspended in March after 10 games, America were fourth with 17 points and Tijuana were 16^th with nine points.

Local observers felt that America didn’t hit top gear in the defeat of Pachuca and were helped by the second-half sending off of the visitors’ Jorge Hernandez in the 55^th minute.

Tijuana took the lead early on against Atlas when midfielder Miller Bolanos scored after only 11 minutes.

However, Santiago Caseres of America was also shown a red card only nine minutes later.

Federico Vinas put America ahead in the 63^rd minute and Sebastian Cordova followed up with an 87th-minute penalty before Colin Kazim-Richards scored a consolation spot-kick for Pachuca.

The perfect photo doesn't exi-

Wait… pic.twitter.com/yWWH6aDk5V

— Club América EN (@ClubAmerica_EN) July 29, 2020

Tijuana took the lead early on against Atlas when midfielder Miller Bolanos scored after only 11 minutes.

Atlas then had Brayton Vazquez ordered off before a second-half goal from Jordi de la Piedra and an added time own goal wrapped up the win for Tijuana.

Pick: Draw (+270)

Pick 2: Atlas vs Pumas UNAM

The Pumas UNAM outfit are not fancied to make much of an impact in the competition but opened with a 3-2 home win against the equally lightly-regarded Queretaro.

But Pumas look decent value for a win in Round 2 when they visit Atlas at 10 pm EST on Saturday.

Pumas are priced at +145 with Atlas at +175 and the draw at +240, which also looks interesting. So, too, does the spread offer (Asian Handicap) for Pumas to win by more than one goal at +360.

When the Clausura came to a halt in March, Pumas were in a healthy sixth position and headed for the playoffs.

Pumas lost their head coach, the former Real Madrid midfielder, Michel, just before the season started.

The team is regarded as being defensively unsound but is capable of getting goals – and it looked that way in their opening game.

Pumas lost their head coach, the former Real Madrid midfielder, Michel, just before the season started due to personal reasons with Andres Lillini put temporarily in charge.

My @LigaBBVAMX "2020 Guard1anes" preview for @ESPNFC #ligamxeng https://t.co/qce4CrHVvS

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) July 23, 2020

Juan Dinenno gave Pumas the lead just before half-time against Queretaro.

An own goal by Nicolas Freire leveled the scores – but then Pumas were handed back the lead thanks to another own goal by Queretaro’s Daniel Cervantes just after Alfonso Luna had been sent off for the visiting side.

Angel Sepulveda leveled the scored again after 72 minutes but Dinenno hit the target once more nine minutes later to claim a 3-2 win for Pumas.

Pick: Pumas UNAM -1.25 (+360)

Pick 3: Leon vs Monterrey

Monterrey were+350 starting favorites to win the championship despite surprisingly being in bottom place when the Clausura was suspended in March.

They were Apertura champions last season and look well priced as favorites for an away win at Leon at +125 at 10:00 pm EST on Monday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6HPrmhxSxA

Leon are priced at +170 – with the draw looking attractive at +245.

In their opening fixture, Leon took part in an uneventful 0-0 draw away against Chivas Guadalajara.

https://twitter.com/tnahardy15/status/1287059844864921600?s=20

Meanwhile, Monterrey took a 20^th minute lead against Toluca through Rogelio Funes with Carlos Rodriguez adding a second 10 minutes later.

Alan Medina pulled one back for Toluca after 46 minutes but Funes scored again in the 85^th minute to seal a comfortable win for Monterrey.

Pick: Monterrey (+125)