James Rodríguez Returns to Help León Overturn the Deficit Against Cruz Azul
After missing the first leg due to suspension, Colombian star James Rodríguez will make his comeback in Mexican football this weekend to help León overcome their 3-2 defeat against Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals’ opening match of the Clausura 2025 Liga MX tournament.
Suspended for being sent off in the last regular season game, Rodríguez watched León’s loss from a stadium balcony on Thursday against Cruz Azul. The defeat forces León to win by at least two goals in their visit to the Olímpico Universitario on Sunday to advance to the semifinals.
A draw would give Cruz Azul the advantage due to their third-place regular season finish, compared to León’s sixth place.
Berizzo Announces Full Strength
León will need more than ever to rely on the James of their early games in Mexico, where he was among the league’s top assist providers with six goal-creating passes and added two goals himself.
To overturn the deficit, Argentine coach Eduardo Berizzo warned that he will deploy an offensive León, projecting their Colombian star:
“James’ return will allow us to push forward, we’ll seek more attacking players or a formation that offers passing options for his talent and find more depth,” Berizzo anticipated.
Although the coach announces a full-strength lineup, defeating Cruz Azul won’t be easy as the Sky Blue only lost twice during the regular season: neither at home nor by more than a one-goal margin.
Moreover, only one of those losses occurred under Uruguayan coach Vicente Sánchez.
Time and Where to Watch the Return Matches on Sunday
Cruz Azul vs León
- Olímpico Universitario | 19:00 hours | May 11, 2025
- WHERE TO WATCH: Canal 5, TUDN, and VIX
Tigres vs Necaxa
- Estadio Universitario | 21:10 hours | May 11, 2025
- WHERE TO WATCH: Canal 7, Azteca Deportes, TUBI, ESPN
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is James Rodríguez? James Rodríguez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Cruz Azul. He is a former Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and FC Porto player, known for his exceptional dribbling, passing, and goal-scoring abilities.
- Why is León’s performance crucial? León needs to win by at least two goals against Cruz Azul to advance to the semifinals, as they lost the first leg 3-2. A draw would give Cruz Azul the advantage based on their regular season standings.
- What challenges does León face against Cruz Azul? Despite James Rodríguez’s return, León faces a tough challenge against Cruz Azul, who only lost twice during the regular season and performed well at home.
