Toluca, led by Portuguese scorer Paulinho and Yucatecan Marcel Ruiz, receives today the Tigres de la UANL, led by Argentine world champion Ángel Correa, with the idea of winning by two goals to retain the title in the 2025 Apertura Tournament.
After losing the first leg of the final 1-0, with a goal from Correa, the Red Devils – led by Antonio Mohamed – will go out to confirm their attack as the most lethal of the tournament to win in their stadium, located 2,600 meters above sea level.
Toluca has suffered so far in the decisive phase of the championship from the absence due to injury of striker Alexis Vega, one of the team’s offensive spark plugs, and it remains to be seen if the World Cup player can return to the field.
With or without Vega, Toluca will have a difficult challenge: it needs to defeat by two goals an opponent that had the most secure defense of the tournament.
With Paulinho as the axis of the offense, the Red Devils will have to be patient so as not to be surprised by an opponent with skill.
Tigres has a balanced squad that is headed by Correa, his compatriot Juan Brunetta, the Frenchman André-Pierre Gignac, the Uruguayan Fernando Gorriarán and the Mexican Diego Lainez.
The last 90 minutes of the final are a reserved forecast because, although Toluca will press on their court, Tigres has more experience in decisive duels. Since 2011 he has played in nine finals, of which he won six.
Although they will prioritize the attack, Mohamed’s team will have to be patient to not concede a goal; If he did so, the final could be complicated for him, since he would be forced to score three goals.
Toluca has shown the best football in the league so far this year. It won the Clausura tournament title in the summer and now aims to do so in the Apertura to reach 12 championships and reach Guadalajara as the second team with the most titles, behind América’s 16. Tigres also has extra motivation: if it wins the championship, it will reach nine titles and reach Cruz Azul in fourth place.