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Cruz Azul, Tigres prep for upcoming Liga MX season

By Thomas Buckley

Cruz Azul faces the Tigres in the Copa GNP semifinals. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)
Cruz Azul faces the Tigres in the Copa GNP semifinals. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images) /
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Liga MX Copa semifinals
André-Pierre Gignac of the Tigres, right. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images) /

Big 4 – of a sort – set to battle for Copa GNP trophy

The Liga MX got exactly what it hoped for – a loaded preseason Cup semifinal slate!

Cruz Azul takes on the Tigres on Wednesday night while Thursday boasts a Chivas-América cage match with the winners wrestling for the Copa GNP por México on Sunday. Not a bad way to warm up for the Apertura 2020.

Well, to be completely accurate, the Liga MX powerhouses are actually preparing for the Guardianes 2020 season, a name selected by Liga MX officials to pay tribute to the health-care professionals who put their lives on the line every day in the battle against Covid-19.

All four teams in the Cup semifinals entertain serious title hopes for the upcoming Liga MX season. All four were in line to make the playoffs when the Clausura 2020 was canceled. Cruz Azul was in first place, América in fourth, Guadalajara in fifth and the Tigres in seventh.

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This first-time Cup event is in no way a treasured trophy and coaches will be most interested in hoping their star players avoid injury with the Guardianes 2020 just a week away. The Copa has given the four clubs the opportunity to work themselves into decent game shape while also taking a close look at youngsters and academy players.

The only manager who might feel pressure to win the Copa GNP is América coach Miguel Herrera whose bosses expect the Aguilas to win everything. This is clear from the criticism he has endured since the Cementeros manhandled “Los Azulcremas” in the final group stage match.

Incidentally, the 4-1 win means Cruz Azul is 3-0-0 against América since Robert Dante Siboldi took charge in La Noria. And the aggregate score is a lopsided 10-3. So if these two Mexico City rivals meet in Sunday’s Final, a lot will be at stake.

But first, the Aguilas must survive a Super Clásico against a resurgent Chivas team that appeared certain to end its Liga MX playoff drought before the coronavirus pandemic interrupted play in mid-March. We’ll look at this match-up in a separate article.

For now, let’s take a look at the two teams paired up in the first semifinal – Cruz Azul and the Tigres – and their prospects for the Guardianes 2020.

Cruz Azul is the lone undefeated team in Copa play. In fact, the Cementeros are on an 11-game streak after winning the final six games of the aborted Clausura 2020, two Concacaf Champions League matches and all three Cup contests. And this despite getting hit by a coronavirus outbreak in late June.

“The Blue Machine” has looked impressive on offense, scoring 9 times in three matches while conceding just 2 goals. Jonathan Rodríguez picked up right where he left off in the Clausura (the Uruguayan led Liga MX with 9 goals), driving the potent Cementeros attack with 2 goals and 2 assists.

The Tigres are reliant on their All-World striker, André-Pierre Gignac, who tops the Copa goal-scoring list with 3 goals, and a veteran defense.

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