After parting ways with Martín Palermo, Pachuca wasted no time in announcing his replacement: Paulo Pezzolano.
The 36-year-old Uruguayan joins Pachuca from Liverpool in his native country, where he won the Torneo Intermedio 2019; before that, he coached Torque, also in Uruguay, and won the Segunda División title with that club.
Pezzolano has some experience with Mexican soccer as well; he played for Necaxa in 2012.
After Pachuca failed to qualify for the playoffs, the club wasted no time in announcing the departure of coach Martín Palermo. In a press release posted to the Tuzos’ twitter account, the club noted that Palermo’s contract had finished and it was decided “by mutual agreement” not to extend it.
Pachuca earned a 2-0 victory against Pumas UNAM, but due to Monterrey’s victory earlier it was not enough to get the Tuzos into the playoffs. Pachuca ended their season with a three-game unbeaten streak, while the universitarios wrapped up their Apertura with a three-game winless streak.
Despite knowing they were out of the running for the Liguilla, Pachuca was determined to end the season on a positive note in front of their fans, and they came out attacking. Their pressure paid off in the 34th minute, when they took advantage of a defensive error to take the lead.
Despite numerous chances at both ends, neither Tigres UANL nor Pachuca could find the breakthrough as this one finished 0-0. The result puts Pachuca’s playoff hopes in jeopardy, while Tigres were already assured a spot in the upcoming Liguilla.
The goalkeepers were the stars of the game, with both Nahuel Guzmán and Rodrigo Rey making impressive stops to preserve their respective clean sheets. Tigres had the majority of possession in the first half, but Pachuca – who needed the win more urgently – kept the pressure on and had a chance or two on the break.
Monterrey kept their playoff hopes alive – and complicated Pachuca’s – with a 2-3 away win on Wednesday night. The result snaps a four-game winless streak for the Rayados, while the Tuzos have now lost three in a row.
Both teams came out attacking and there were chances at either end, but the visitors were the first to capitalize. In the 10th minute, Monterrey won a corner kick; Dorlan Pabón sent it toward the near post, Rodrigo Rey couldn’t make the clearance, and Nicolás Sánchez finished it off to give the Rayados the 0-1 lead.
Toluca complicated Pachuca’s playoff hopes with a 2-0 home victory. The result ends a two-game winless streak for the Diablos Rojos and keeps them unbeaten in five while the Tuzos have now lost back-to-back games.
The visitors had the better of the chances in the first half, but Alfredo Talavera had a great game in goal to keep Pachuca off the board. He had a little help from the woodwork as well, with the post denying Rubens Sambueza.
FC Juárez earned their first away win of the season with a 0-1 victory against Pachuca. The result snaps a three-game winless streak for the Bravos, while the Tuzos saw their three-game winning streak halted.
The first half was a cagey affair, with neither side able to take advantage. Pachuca was perhaps a little rusty after a two-week layoff (with their bye week occurring just before the international break), while Juárez was well-organized and able to close down the spaces the hosts were trying to exploit.
Pachuca wrapped up a perfect week with a 2-0 win against Cruz Azul. The result is a third straight victory for the Tuzos, who are unbeaten in four, while La Máquina are now winless in seven.
An open first half saw chances at both ends, but when the breakthrough came it was for the hosts. In the 29th minute, Víctor Guzmán received the ball on the left, drove into the box, cut past his defender, and fired past Jesús Corona to make it 1-0 for Pachuca.
In an exciting game where both teams had the lead at one time or another, Pachuca emerged victorious with a 2-4 away win against Chivas de Guadalajara. The result gives the Tuzos back-to-back multi-goal victories and keeps them unbeaten in three, while El Rebaño has now lost two in a row.
Chivas came out pressing while Pachuca sat back, absorbed the pressure, and waited for an opening. It came in the 15th minute when Dieter Villalpando lost the ball and let Franco Jara break away on a counterattack, which ended with Antonio Briseño conceding a penalty with a foul in the box.
Pachuca scored early and often en route to a 4-1 victory against Tijuana. The result snaps a three-game winless streak for the Tuzos, while the Xolos are now winless in three and have lost four in a row on the road.
The hosts came out attacking as they looked to get back on track in front of their home fans, and it didn’t take long for one of those attacking forays to pay off. In the 8th minute, Franco Jara was brought down in the box to earn Pachuca an early penalty kick. Jara took it himself and converted it to make it 1-0 for the Tuzos.
