Liga MX action resumed Tuesday one week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked central Mexico, with clubs marking the occasion with touching tributes.
Over 300 died as a result of the earthquake and Mexican football came to a standstill, with Liga MX and Copa MX games suspended and clubs and players helping the rescue and clean-up effort. Games won't be played in Mexico City for at least another two weeks.
In Guadalajara on Tuesday, Chivas and Lobos BUAP came out onto the field for their 2017 Apertura round 11 match in one line, with players mixed as if they were one team.
Players held out their right fists during the minute silence for the victims ahead of kick-off, in a scene replicated in Tuesday's other three games.
Minuto de silencio en el Estadio Caliente #HoyMásUnidosQueNunca #FuerzaMéxico pic.twitter.com/SZyCZKutGg
— Xolos (@Xolos) September 27, 2017
The minute silence was followed by a rendition of the Mexican national anthem and both teams in all the games took the traditional pregame photo together under the banner "More united today than ever."
At half-time in Chivas' 2-1 loss to Lobos BUAP, club owner Jorge Vergara handed a Chivas shirt to the family of a young fan who died in the tragedy.
Chivas coach Matias Almeyda said his club would continue to aid those affected by the earthquake.
"It's a sad and difficult time for Mexico," Almeyda said after the game. "The help will be needed for a long time, not just a week or 10 days ... There a lot of people without anything. The solidarity isn't just about taking a photo or in handing over a meal ... but in continuing [to help]."
Almeyda added that Chivas players will be volunteering every Monday until the end of the Apertura tournament.
Over in Morelia, players wore shirts with "Mexico is on its feet" on them during the warm-up, while Club Tijuana's shirts had "Fuerza Mexico" (Stay Strong Mexico) on the back.
Major sports networks in the United States simulcast three Liga MX games. ESPN joined forces with Azteca America, Fox and Univision Deportes to broadcast simultaneously in Spanish and English using commentators from the different networks.
The "United for Each Other" campaign -- Unidos por los Nuestros -- encouraged donations to the American Red Cross to go towards relief efforts in Mexico, Florida, Texas, Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean and will continue on Wednesday.
Tuesday's results:
Chivas 1-2 Lobos BUAP
Puebla 1-2 Atlas
Veracruz 2-1 Morelia
Tijuana 0-1 Tigres
On Wednesday:
Leon vs. America
Toluca vs. Pumas
Necaxa vs. Queretaro
Monterrey vs. Santos Laguna
Pachuca vs. Cruz Azul