<p_ON Saturday, October 12, 2024, Mexico‘s national soccer team, El Tri, faced off against Valencia, a La Liga club from Spain, in a highly unusual friendly match. This rare encounter between a national team and a professional club was necessitated by the challenges national teams are facing during international breaks. With European teams engaged in the Nations League tournament and South American sides competing in World Cup qualifiers, Mexico had to get creative with their scheduling.
The match took place at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico, marking the first time El Tri played on Mexican soil in 2024. Mexico’s new coach, Javier Aguirre, who is beginning his third stint with the team, used this opportunity to explore different lineup options ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Key players like Raúl Jiménez, Guillermo Ochoa, and Edsón Álvarez were part of the squad, with some new faces also getting a chance to shine.
Valencia traveled to Mexico with a depleted squad, as several of their players were either representing their countries or recovering from injuries. Only six players from Valencia’s squad had played in over 50% of the team’s minutes in La Liga this season.
The match ended with Mexico securing a 2-0 victory over Valencia. Ozziel Herrera scored one of the goals, contributing to El Tri’s win in this unique and intriguing friendly match.
This victory comes ahead of another significant match for Mexico, as they prepare to face the U.S. men’s national team on Tuesday, aiming to end a seven-game winless streak against their northern neighbors.
