Pizarro and Mozo face Chivas with Pachuca at very different points in their careers

Some reunions carry more weight than others, and this is one of them. This Saturday, when Pachuca hosts Guadalajara, two players who once wore the red and white of Chivas will line up on the opposite side of the field. Rodolfo Pizarro and Alan Mozo share a locker room at Los Tuzos, but they arrive at this match at completely different points in their careers.

Pizarro, a decade later

Let's start with Pizarro, because his history with Chivas is no small thing. He was a key piece of the squad that won the 2017 Clausura Liga MX title, the Copa MX that same tournament, and the Concacaf Champions League in 2018. That Guadalajara team etched itself into the fans' memory, and Pizarro was one of the most talked about names on it.

His departure came in the summer of 2018, when Monterrey paid for his transfer. There he won another Concacaf Champions League and the 2019 Apertura, tallying 64 matches and nine goals in that first stint in Monterrey. Then came a leap few Mexican players had made before: in February 2020 he became a designated player for Inter Miami, where he played 47 matches with seven goals before returning to Monterrey on loan in 2022 (32 matches, one goal).

His second stint in Florida, in 2023, was much shorter: just 15 matches without a goal. That same year he tried his luck in Europe for the first time with AEK Athens, where he played 22 matches without scoring. He returned to Mexico in 2024 with Mazatlan (23 matches) and then moved to FC Juarez for the 2025-26 season, contributing four goals in 38 games with the Bravos.

Pachuca announced his return in June, nearly ten years after Pizarro left for Chivas, signing him through 2028. So far in the 2026 Apertura he has made four appearances totaling 244 minutes in Liga MX, still without a goal or an assist. This reunion with Guadalajara comes at a moment when he's looking to rediscover his best level wearing the shirt he first wore as a professional.

Mozo, in search of rhythm

Mozo's case is different. The fullback left Chivas in January 2026 to join Pachuca on loan, after losing his place in the Guadalajara lineup. His start with Los Tuzos could hardly have been rockier: he played just three matches in the 2026 Clausura before suffering a broken leg in February that sidelined him for the rest of the tournament.

He returned for the 2026 Apertura and was immediately a starter, featuring in wins over Pumas and Leon, as well as playing all 90 minutes against Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup, a match in which he provided an assist. After that his playing time began to fluctuate, and he was left on the bench in the most recent match against Atletico San Luis.

In Liga MX he has racked up four appearances and 253 minutes so far this tournament. His loan with Pachuca runs through December 2026, meaning his future remains contractually tied to Chivas while he tries to earn a regular spot with the Hidalgo club. Facing his former team could be just the push he needs to regain some continuity.