It is considered the second most populous metropolitan area other than Mexico City. It has been called the cultural center of Mexico. It is one of North America's most business-friendly cities.
It even has three professional soccer teams in Mexico's top-flight league: Chivas de Guadalajara, Atlas and Estudiantes Tecos of the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.
That could change after April. That is if Estudiantes Tecos is relegated from the Primera Division to the minor leagues or Liga de Ascenso, as it is known in Spanish.
That could certainly be the case if Tecos is unable to climb out of the basement in the relegation points per game standings.
Tecos is last in that category with 1.0108 points per game heading into Friday's home match against Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles at Estadio Tres de Marzo.
The Week 9 match-up features to clubs that, at one point, were both fighting to remain in the First Division. That has suddenly changed in this Clausura tournament. Tecos and the Xolos are heading in opposite directions.
As Tecos (1-5-2) sits as the No. 16 team out of the 18-team season standings with five points, Tijuana has surged into one of the league's top 10 teams in only its second tournament in the Primera Division.
Tecos has the same number of points as last place Queretaro and Chivas is second to last. But Tecos has a better goal differential.
But perhaps more crucial is the relegation percentage table. Tecos' number is only a fraction better than cross-town rival Atlas (1.0753) and Queretaro (1.1290).
Tijuana is at 1.2400, better than seven teams. The Xolos started the tournament with that same number. Tecos has improved from 0.9322.
The Xolos (3-4-1, 13 points) could have been in the same conversation when it comes to relegation and the bottom of the standings had it not come into this tournament with an unbeaten streak under coach Antonio Mohamed. Tijuana had not lost in 11 matches dating back to the Apertura tournament when Mohamed took over fron the fired Joaquin del Olmo.
It was after a 2-0 loss at home to Tecos that Tijuana's front office decided to fire del Olmo and hire Mohamed.
The result prompted the Xolos home crowd to chant "fuera, fuera, fuera," or "out" every time del Olmo was shown on the giant scoreboard screen.
Mohamed's hiring favored the Xolos, which are coming off a draw against Toluca at home last week.
The Xolos have gone unbeaten since losing to Santos at home on Jan. 29. That was four matches ago. And Tijuana has been, for the most part, the better team in those games. If things continue this way, the Xolos can forget about possible relegation and look forward to a possible post-season berth. The top eight teams in the standings qualify for the playoffs.
The match against Tecos could also be considered a sandwich match, a softer opponent in between two tougher rivals. Toluca last week and Club America next Friday night at Estadio Caliente.
But Mohamed is not letting that get to his players' head or is underestimating Tecos.
"You count your cards at the end (of the tournament)," Mohamed said. "We can't talk about that right now. We are having a good season but we can count our cards at the end. Now is the time to talk about how things are now. There is plenty of tournament left and many things could happen."
ivan.orozco@sandiegored.com
[sidebar]GAME DAY
What: Xolos at Estudiantes Tecos
When: Friday, 6:10 p.m.
Where: Estadio Tres de Marzo, Guadalajara
TV: Azteca América
Outlook: The Xolos could move up in the standings inside the top five clubs with a win Friday night. Tijuana is being considered the favorite despite losing to Tecos last season at home. Tecos is coming off a 1-0 loss to Jaguares de Chiapas while the Xolos are coming off a draw against Toluca.
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