Liga MX Guardianes Round 5 Odds & Picks: Tigres UANL Aim to Build On Good Start

• Nine fixtures in Mexican league starting Friday in re-named Apertura competition
• Tigres could get goals at Toluca while Chivas new coach Vuchetic takes charge at Atletico San Luis
• See the odds and best bets for Mexico Liga MX Guardianes Round Five

Mexico’s Liga MX is in full swing again with the Apertura section of the two-stage 2020-21 competition led by Club America heading into Round Five over the coming five days.

They have 10 points and lead by two points from second-placed Tigres UANL who are ahead of Pumas UNAM on goal difference.

The competition has been re-named as the “Guardianes” in honor of the work of the nation’s medical staff during the coronavirus crisis.

Mexico Liga MX Guardianes Odds

Odds taken August 14

Pick 1: Toluca vs Tigres UANL

Tigres are one of three unbeaten teams along with America and Pumas UNAM.

They face seventh-placed Deportivo Toluca away from home at 2:00 pm ET on Sunday with oddsmakers pricing Tigres as favorites at -106.

Toluca are rated at a wide +265 with the draw also at +265.

America reaches the top of the standings after defeating Santos Laguna #America #Santos #LigaMX pic.twitter.com/Ait7bfROse

— El Tri Online (@eltrionline) August 14, 2020

Tigres have one of the better goal differences after scoring six and conceding only twice in their four fixtures.

It makes the spread offer of a win by Tigres by two goals an attractive one at +270 (-1.5 +270) – especially as Toluca have the joint-worst defensive record in the 18-team competition after conceding eight goals in four games.

However, they have surprised some by winning twice so far so the draw may offer possibilities here at +265, too.

Tigres opened with a 3-0 win at Necaxa before two successive draws; finishing 1-1 at home against Pachuca and then 0-0 at Tijuana.

Toluca lost 3-1 at Monterrey in their first fixture before a 3-2 win at home against Atletico San Luis.

Then came a 2-1 home win last midweek against the surprise package team of fourth-placed Puebla.

Toluca lost 3-1 at Monterrey in their first fixture before a 3-2 win at home against Atletico San Luis.

New post (MLS more patient with Mexican players than Liga MX says Atlanta United's Cubo Torres) has been published on Football Sins – https://t.co/YLhCzioISK pic.twitter.com/nOtd95jOtc

— Football Sins (@Football_sins) August 13, 2020

They then slumped 2-1 against lowly Mazatlan before a 2-1 midweek win against bottom club Atlas.

There was a 1-0 win for Tigres at home in their most recent meeting with Toluca last October and the same result when the sides met with Toluca at home in January last year.

Pick: Tigres -1.5 +270 (Asian Handicap -1.5 +270)

Pick 2: Chivas Guadalajara vs Atletico San Luis

Chivas Guadalajara fired head coach Luis Fernando Tena after they earned only one point in their opening three games without scoring a single goal.

There was an immediate improvement under stand-in boss Michael Leano with a 2-0 away win against Juarez this mid-week.

The new permanent head coach – the widely experienced former Mexican national team manager Victor Manuel Vucetich – will take charge for the first time against Atletico San Luis.

It makes them -118 favorites for a home win against Atletico San Luiz on Saturday at 7:00 pm ET.

However, San Luis have made a stubbornly dogged start and could be a good shout as +340 outsiders for a win on the road – although the draw is more attractive at  +240.

Guadalajara are 13th as they seek a bright start under new coach Vuchetic.

San Luis have drawn twice already in the Guardianales along with one win and one defeat. It has put them in ninth place.

Guadalajara are 13th as they seek a bright start under new coach Vuchetic.

It’s official! Vucetich will be Chivas’ new coach and be at the helm Saturday night against Atlético San Luis. #LigaMXEng #ChivasEng pic.twitter.com/cXuJKIxKKM

— Chivas del Norte (@chivasdelnorte) August 13, 2020

There was a 1-1 home draw for San Luis on opening day against Juarez followed by a 3-2 defeat at Toluca.

Then came another all-square result with the spoils shared at 1-1 with current bottom club Atlas.

The team’s first win came away at lowly Tijuana at 2-0 in mid-week.

.@ChivasEN_ coach Victor Manuel Vucetich: It’s the biggest challenge of my career as a coach (because of) the fans, (the club's) identify … #ligamxeng

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) August 13, 2020

There was a 2-2 draw when San Luis met Chivas at home in February in the 2019-20 Clausura competition which was later abandoned as the virus hit hard.

Pick: Draw +240

Pick 3: Mazatlan vs Pumas UNAM

Third-placed Pumas UNAM are a surprisingly generous +160 for an away win against Mazatlan at 11:00 pm ET on Saturday  – with the 15^th-placed home team surprisingly priced equally at +160.

The draw is +240 but Pumas looks good value for three points on the road.

Mazatlan are a new “franchise” in Liga MX. They were formed in June this year when the former Monarcas Morelia team moved to the city of Mazatlan.

In an encouraging start, Pumas built their base for this season with two wins in the first two games.

First, they defeated lightly-regarded Queretaro by 3-2 at home and then followed up with a 2-1 victory against strugglers Atlas.

Since then, they have drawn at home twice against Juarez and Monterrey – both times by 1-1.

Mazatlan lost their opening game in the competition by 4-1 against unfancied Puebla.

They then drew 1-1 at Queretaro before their first win- 2-1 at home against Toluca who are currently second from bottom.

That was followed by a 1-0 defeat against 15^th-placed Necaxa in midweek.

Pick: Pumas UNAM +160