In what is shaping up to be a modern rivalry in Mexican football, Club América vs. Tigres is now ready for the final of the inaugural tournament of 2023!
The first leg in Monterrey will start on Thursday at 10pm ET and the return leg in Mexico City on Sunday at 8:30pm ET, and this week’s battle will pit the country’s most successful team in history (Club America) against the most successful team in history. Team of the last decade (Tigers).
Ahead of the two matches that will determine the winners of the Apertura Championship, here’s everything you need to know about the finalists.
– Final standings of the Mexican League | Liga MX coverage on ESPN Deportes
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Club of America
(Regular Season: 1st place, 12W-4D-3L)
How did they get here?
Despite immediately dealing with injury problems that changed countless lineups in his first season as coach, and a frustrating round-of-16 exit in the League Cup in August, new Club America coach Andre Jardin has managed to help carry the Mexico City giants not only to the top flight. . They finished first in the regular season, but also in this week’s league final.
Jardin initially needed time to adjust things, but he eventually succeeded in shaping his team into the best attack and defense in the Mexican Primera Liga. Launching into the post-season with a 16-game unbeaten run in Liga MX, Las Aguilas Then it surpassed Lyon 4-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals and Atletico San Luis 5-2 in the semi-finals.
However, their 19-match unbeaten streak was officially ended on Saturday following a 2-0 loss in the semi-final second leg. It remains to be seen whether the result is just a blip after a 5-0 lead in the first leg, or a sign of what is to come.
Points of strength and weakness
A discussion and analysis of all their strengths could fill this entire article. Club America put up some of the best attacking and defending numbers in Liga MX, finishing games in impressive fashion by scoring 13 goals after the 75th minute, compiling the best xG tally in an Apertura regular season, and most importantly, being able to count on a long list of game-changing players like Jonathan Dos Santos, Diego Valdés, Alvaro Fidalgo, Julian Quiñones, Henry Martin, and Sebastian Cáceres.
Club America tends to keep a large amount of the ball and create danger with through balls that cross the line, and Club America’s deep roster will be a handful for Tigres. But they’re not perfect either.
There are question marks over the strength of their full-backs, and as we saw through some of the more difficult qualifying moments against Lyon and Atletico San Luis, Jardine and his players can struggle when teams are willing to be proactive and go toe-to-toe with them.
Who is their best player?
As mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of game-changing players at Club America. Quiñones is a great creator of chances and goals, Valdes is an invaluable number 10 and a leader in the final third, Cáceres has been extremely important at the back, and Dos Santos is an unsung hero who makes an impact at the center of the pitch. XI and Fidalgo have had a huge impact on his distribution moving forward.
But if we were to focus on just one character, it would have to be Martin. His goals alone (four in as many play-off games this season) are worthy of making him an MVP candidate, but the striker also does a huge amount of work linking up with the rest of the frontline and supporting the defense through interceptions.
If there is one Club America player capable of providing a decisive moment this week that could help secure the championship, it is likely to be Martin.
What does the title mean for the club?
Brashley claims to be the best in the history of Mexican football, which would increase Club America’s tally of Liga MX championships to 14, and would serve as confirmation of his unparalleled and untouched status in the country. Although they last clinched the league title just a few years ago in 2018, that short period has also seemed like an eternity for what is arguably the most popular club team in Mexico and perhaps North America.
Can this other club make the same claim in terms of popularity? That would be old rival Chivas, who have 12 titles to their name. If Club America can secure another championship, a potential 14th title would give them a more comfortable lead over their soccer rivals who would then trail by two points.
Tigers
(Regular Season: 3rd, 8W-6D-3L)
How did they get here?
In true Tigres fashion, the current defending champions had some inconsistencies which then developed into a strong finish. After shaking off the Championship hangover from last season, Tigres have suffered just one defeat in their last 14 matches in all competitions, which includes a Champions League title win over Los Angeles USA in September.
Combined with a lethal mix of respected and promising veterans, as well as a raucous home atmosphere at Estadio Universitario, Tigres kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 5-2 aggregate win over Puebla in the quarterfinals. And a 2-1 aggregate victory over Pumas in the semi-finals.
Even with the marquee striker Andre-Pierre Gignac Being available for just one start in his four qualifying matches due to injury, that did not slow down the champions who managed to score five goals without him. With a few days of rest remaining before Thursday, Tigres coach Robert Dante Siboldi should be able to rely on the former France international in the two-legged final.
Points of strength and weakness
Few rosters in North America have players on the bench who could be true stars for most other teams in the region. The Tigers have depth, and when things aren’t going well, they benefit from several very talented solutions that can emerge from the sidelines. For the most part, there are also a few things that need fixing in Siboldi’s game as he manages to create a wealth of dangerous crosses and passes in the final third.
With Gignac as the target man up top, there is an exciting amount of agile and intelligent movement behind him from players such as Diego Lainez, Sebastian Córdova, Raimundo Fulgencio, Jonathan Uzil Herrera and Marcelo Flores. In net as a goalkeeper and occasional captain, they also have the ultimate factor of an eccentric character in Nahuel Guzman.
However, the Tiger River is virtually disposable. They can sometimes struggle in duels – especially in the air as we saw in their last match against the Pumas – and that long list of crosses doesn’t always tend to be the most accurate.
Who is their best player?
Who else but Ginac? The club’s current living legend, Tigres’ all-time top goalscorer, is one of the main reasons why Nuevo León has become such a force since his arrival in 2015.
Aside from the fact that he is now 38 years old and shows a serious lack of speed, that has done little to stop his power and decision-making in front of the net. Like most of his other veteran teammates, there is also a certain poise and confidence to Gignac in big match moments.
When Tigres won their title last season, Gignac was there to score in the second leg of the final. Before that in the 2019 tournament, there was Gignac again with a lone goal in the final series. Although this season has not been perfect for the French striker and his club, the same can be said when he helped them win their last two Liga MX titles.
What does the title mean for the club?
Back-to-back titles will once again highlight that the new home of men’s and women’s football in Mexico is controlled in the north in the city of Monterrey, rather than its traditional home located closer to the center of the country. Weeks after Tigres won the Liga MX Femenil title in November – extending their league record to six championships – the Tigres men’s side could also continue to cement their place as the most dominant Mexican men’s team of the 21st century.
And while the men’s team’s ninth title still trails the record of Club America (13), Chivas (12) and Toluca (10), there is no doubt that they are the ones making the most ground and growth. In the last years.
If Tigres’ latest title means they can now consider themselves Great equipment (Big team) In Mexico, there will be another statement that they may soon overtake him
