Background and Relevance of Teams
This week, Tigres will attempt to prolong Cruz Azul’s over a decade-long absence from Concacaf finals. The last time Cruz Azul reached the final of this competition, now known as Concacaf Champions League, was in 2014 when they defeated Tijuana in the semifinals and subsequently triumphed over Toluca to claim their sixth trophy in this tournament.
Recent Encounters and Current Standings
In 2025, Cruz Azul and Tigres find themselves in semifinals for the first time against each other. The first leg concluded 1-1 at Estadio Universitario in Nuevo León. The return match is scheduled for Thursday, May 1st at Cruz Azul’s home ground, Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City.
Tigres has had closer encounters with Concacaf finals, achieving it in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020. However, their only triumph was in the 2020 edition against Los Angeles FC.
To secure a spot in the 2025 final, Tigres must win or draw by at least two goals in the second leg in Mexico City. The away-goals rule still applies in Concacaf, meaning Cruz Azul would advance with a scoreless draw following their 1-1 result in Nuevo León. In case of another 1-1 draw, extra time would ensue.
Historical Context and Recent Performance
Both teams approach the Concacaf Champions League semifinal return match without Liga MX’s pressure, as they secured direct qualification to the playoffs following the regular season. Their performance was quite even, with both teams accumulating 33 points and a goal difference of +10 after 17 games.
The only differentiating factor placing Cruz Azul in third place and Tigres in fourth was the former’s 26 goals for compared to the latter’s 24.
An interesting note for Tigres is that, according to official Concacaf statistics, Cruz Azul has not won a semifinal return match as the home team since their 2014 championship. In 2021, they lost 1-4 to Monterrey and in 2022, they drew 0-0 with Pumas, failing to advance to the Concacaf final.
Tigres’ record is more balanced, having closed four Concacaf semifinal series as the away team, winning twice and losing twice. Their most recent victory was against Santos Laguna in the 2019 edition.
Coaching Situation
Both teams are led by relatively inexperienced coaches this season: Guido Pizarro for Tigres and Vicente Sánchez for Cruz Azul, who took over after the departures of Veljko Paunovic and Martín Anselmi, respectively. Despite their newcomer status, both coaches have demonstrated strong performance in Concacaf and Liga MX, with the latter’s playoffs commencing the following week.
Concacaf 2025 – Semifinal Return Match
- Cruz Azul vs. Tigres
- Thursday, May 1st
- 20:00 hrs.
- Estadio Olímpico Universitario (Mexico City)
- Broadcast: Tubi
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is the significance of this match for both teams?
- Q: How have both teams performed recently in Concacaf?
- Q: What are the coaching backgrounds of the current leaders?
A: This match is crucial for Tigres to extend Cruz Azul’s 11-year absence from Concacaf finals. For Cruz Azul, a win would secure their spot in the 2025 final.
A: Both teams have shown strong performance in Concacaf, with Tigres having reached the finals in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020, winning only in 2020. Cruz Azul last reached the final in 2014.
A: Guido Pizarro and Vicente Sánchez, the current coaches of Tigres and Cruz Azul respectively, are relatively new to their roles this season. Despite their inexperience, both have shown promising results in Concacaf and Liga MX.
