Left-back Bryan González is a major doubt for Guadalajara Chivas's Clásico Tapatío against Atlas on October 11. Manager Gabriel Milito stated that, based on the medical prognosis, the player is not expected to be ready in time for the key derby at Estadio Jalisco.
González's injury has been a persistent issue. The defender first got hurt during the Leagues Cup match against Seattle Sounders, causing him to miss four straight Liga MX games. He returned as a substitute and scored in the 2-2 draw against América on September 20, but suffered a relapse during that same Clásico Nacional. In total, he has missed five matchdays in the current tournament.
Gabriel Milito provided an update on the squad's fitness. "In Cotorro's case, we'll see how he progresses." the manager said. In contrast, Milito indicated that Miguel Gómez and José Castillo, also recovering, are progressing faster. "Miguel Gómez and José Castillo are going much quicker, or more advanced, than 'Cotorro'. We imagine that, perhaps, they could be in condition to play," he added.
The potential absence of González comes at a demanding time for the team, which sits second in Liga MX with 18 points. The red-and-white side aims to hold its position in the standings after a 2-0 loss to Querétaro on September 26, a result that is part of a recent patchy run of form with two wins, one draw, and two losses in their last five league matches. Their next opponent, Atlas, is fifth in the table, setting up a tight contest. Chivas won 1-0 in the last meeting between the sides on March 30, with the winning goal coming in the 87th minute.
With several defensive absences, the availability of players like Gómez and Castillo becomes vital ahead of the derby fixture. The team will look to bounce back from its last result to face a match that always defines the season. The full squad and its statistics are available on the squad page.
This story first appeared at Record MX
