Tigres sidle into Estadio Azteca looking for revenge against champs
Liga MX champs aim to maintain bragging rights
A Liga MX finals rematch highlights the Matchday 11 calendar that got under way Friday night with two draws and yet another victory for the Cinderella of the Clausura 2024 – Necaxa.
Holders América hosts Tigres Saturday night with the visitors desperate to gain some revenge and kick-start their push toward a third consecutive Liga MX finals appearance.
Both teams are coming off midweek Concacaf Champions Cup road trips (América winning, Tigres in a scoreless draw), but this clash of giants has everybody’s attention.
Though pundits and fans alike have been all too reluctant to label this game a “Clásico” (this has changed of late), these two perennial title contenders don’t care what you call it. It will be a war.
Since 2010, Tigres has won 12 domestic and international trophies while the Aguilas have hoisted eight, and they've met in three Liga MX finals in the past 10 years with América winning twice.
The champs – in 4th place with 21 points – have just one loss on the season and no Liga MX defense has allowed fewer goals (6).
Tigres – off to its habitual slow start (in 6th place with 18 points) – has struggled to find rhythm on offense (just 14 goals in 10 games) as coach Robert Siboldi has rotated his line-up liberally.
Other Matchday 11 contests
The struggling Chivas – losers of three of four – play host to 11th-place León knowing they must shake off the embarrassment of their 3-0 home loss to América in a Concachampions Round of 16 match.
Stuck in 9th place, “El Rebaño Sagrado” hopes to take advantage of the league’s fourth-worst defense to restore Chivas Nation’s faith in their prospects. For its part, León needs to find some consistency up front where Federico Viñas has gotten little support from his mates.
High-scoring Pachuca welcomes Querétaro to Estadio Hidalgo, eager to stay in the hunt for a top seed. The youthful Tuzos (22 points) appear to be a genuine contender ahead of schedule as coach Guillermo Almada has been rewarded for showing confidence in the club’s academy system.
Also Saturday, Cruz Azul – another pleasant surprise this season – pays a visit to Santos Laguna determined to show its performance thus far is no fluke. Under first-year coach Martín Anselmi, the Cementeros (22 points) are playing with verve and tactical discipline despite playing at a high pace.
Sunday’s twin bill begins with UNAM hosting Tijuana and concludes with 1st-place Monterrey welcoming Mazatlán FC to “El Gigante de Acero.”
Friday’s Liga MX results
Necaxa (18 points) got back on the winning track with a 3-1 home win over Atlético de San Luis. A week after suffering its first loss of the Clausura, the 7th-placed Rayos scored more than 1 goal for the first time since Feb. 10 with Diego Gomez (minute 29), Braian Samudio (45+6') and Edgar Méndez (90+3')doing the honors.
“Los electricistas” have already surpass their points haul from last season when they finished at the bottom of the Liga MX table.
In Cd. Juárez, the last-place Bravos held Toluca to a 1-1 draw. Though the Diablos Rojos are no doubt disappointed with the result, they did extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.
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In Puebla in a battle of also-rans, the host Camoteros played Atlas to a 2-2 stalemate. The tie allowed the Zorros to climb into 12th place temporarily, but Puebla remains in 17th place, 2 points clear of last place FC Juárez.