Visits
With Juárez-Toluca, Monterrey-América and Tijuana-Tigres, the curtain opens on the Apertura 2025 Liguilla
CARLOS HORTA MARTÍNEZ
CANTON GROUP
MEXICO CITY.- The Liguilla begins this day with three matches in the first leg of the quarterfinals, something unusual. For the first time in 22 years, that amount will be played on Wednesday and three on Saturday, to leave only one game for Saturday and one for Sunday, at the close of the first stage of the League.
The last time this happened in Mexican soccer was in the 2003 Clausura Tournament, when the Chivas vs. Morelia, Toluca vs. Tigers and Atlas vs. Monterrey were held on May 28, 2003, while the return matches were played on the 31st of the same month; On that occasion, the only game that took place on a Thursday was Veracruz vs. Atlante and the return on Sunday.
WHY IS IT PLAYED THAT WAY?
With the intention of preventing América from playing on the same day as Cruz Azul, the SSC (Secretary of Citizen Security) requested that these teams play their return match at home in the Ciudad de los Deportes and Olympic Universitario stadiums on different days.
Therefore, América will visit Rayados next Wednesday in Sultana del Norte to receive the return on Saturday at Azulcrema; while Cruz Azul will do the same with Chivas at Akron on Thursday and will close the series at CU next Sunday.
BRAVOS RECEIVES DEVIL
FC Juárez comes from defeating Pachuca 2-1 in the last Play-in match to get their ticket to the quarterfinals, now they will face Toluca, in a series that will not be easy and where in the IDA they will have to get an advantage if they want to dream of eliminating the leader and current champion of Mexican soccer.
For your part Toluca It comes from having several days of rest since it qualified directly to the league by finishing as leader in the regular phase, its first rival in this big party will be FC Juárez, it will seek to take advantage in the IDA to be able to close the tie at home and be able to dream of the semifinals.
They have only faced each other in a playoff that the Devils won, in the Apertura 2022 at the Nemesio Diez Stadium, where the Devils won 3-0 with goals from Camilo Sanvezzo, Carlos González and Marcel Ruiz; Toluca and Juárez faced each other in J4 of Ap2022 at the Benito Juárez Olympic Stadium, where the Devils won 2-0 thanks to goals from Paulinho and Juan Domínguez.
THE EAGLES VISIT THE STEEL GIANT}
Monterrey and America They open their quarterfinal bracket. On paper, the most even quarterfinal bracket. Rayados finished in fifth place in the general table with 31 points, the result of nine wins, four draws and four losses. On the other hand, the Eagles were fourth in the standings with 34 points, courtesy of 10 wins, four draws and three losses.
Monterrey They will seek to remain undefeated at home, a condition in which they did not lose throughout the regular phase. The Monterrey team won five wins and three draws in their eight home games, scoring 18 goals and conceding nine.
On the other side America He signed a record of three wins, four draws and two losses as a visitor. There were 15 goals scored and 13 received.
Monterrey has a favorable balance over América if we consider the last three duels: one victory and two draws; However, in recent history, the Águilas’ title won in the final of Apertura 2024 stands out. If we go only to games played in Monterrey territory, the capitalians have three matches without a win, their last victory being a 0-3 on matchday 14 of Apertura 2023.
TIGERS ENTER THE KENNEL AT MIDNIGHT
He Xolos vs Tigreswill be played at 11 pm central Mexico time, although in reality this will not be the first game between these two teams.
In Liguilla this schedule sets a precedent, however, there was already a duel eight years ago that was played not at 11, but at 11:15 at night at the Caliente Stadium.
It was on Matchday 11 of Apertura 2017, on Tuesday, September 26, a game where the Felinos took the three points with a 1-0 victory, with a score by Chilean Eduardo Vargas, a game that started on the 26th and ended on September 27.
The cats come to this series as strong favorites to advance and their numbers support it. They had 10 wins, 6 draws and lost only once, numbers that gave them second place in the competition. For their part, the border team moved into 7th position in the standings after 6 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses. This position made them seek their place in the top eight phase through Play In, in which they beat FC Juárez 3-1.
Despite how complicated the outlook looks, the Canines, along with América, are the only teams that did not fall in the semester at home.
However, the university students arrive with the honor of being the second best offense in the tournament with 35 scores and the best defense by only allowing 16 points. Furthermore, as visitors they did not lose a single time in the tournament. Confidence is at its peak in Guido Pizarro’s pupils; and it will only be enough for them to express it on the field of play.
OPENING 2025
QUARTER FINALS
GOING GAME
FC Juárez vs Toluca
Date: Wednesday November 26
Time: 19:00
Venue: Benito Juárez Olympic Stadium
TV: Azteca 7
Monterrey vs America
Date: Wednesday November 26
Time: 21:05
Venue: BBVA Stadium, Nuevo León
TV: Channel 5
Tijuana vs Tigres
Date: Wednesday November 26
Time: 23:00
Venue: Caliente Stadium, Tijuana
TV: FOX
