Cruz Azul vs Tigres: Semifinals Schedule, Where to Watch & Prediction | Liga MX

Quedaron definidas los semifinales del Torneo Apertura 2025, de la Liga MX. El Toluca busca refrendar su corona, pero todavía hay otros tres que intentarán evitar que consiga su cometido a toda costa: Tigres, Cruz Azul y Monterrey. Una de las llaves enfrenta a La Máquina con la U de Nuevo León, iniciando the first leg at Estadio Olímpico Universitario this Wednesday, December 3.

Cruz Azul secured their spot in the semifinals after a dramatic 3-2 aggregate victory over Chivas, overcoming an initial deficit in the tie. The first leg at Estadio Akron ended scoreless, but the return match at Estadio Universitario was full of drama. American forward Cade Cowell put Chivas ahead, but Gabriel ‘Toro’ Fernández quickly leveled the score. Bryan González then restored Guadalajara’s lead, only for Jeremy Márquez and Carlos Rodríguez to turn the tide. Cruz Azul were fortunate that Javier Hernández missed a late penalty, sealing their progression.

Meanwhile, Tigres mounted an incredible comeback at Estadio Volcán. After falling 3-0 to Xolos in the first leg, the Monterrey side roared back with a dominant 5-0 victory. They could have extended their lead further if not for a strong performance from Xolos goalkeeper Toño Rodríguez. Juan Brunetta bagged a brace, with Nico Ibáñez, Ozziel Herrera, and Juan Pablo Vigón also finding the net. The win brings Argentine manager Guido Pizarro one step closer to achieving his ambition of winning the league title from the dugout, mirroring his success as a player.

During the regular season, Cruz Azul and Tigres played to a 1-1 draw at Estadio Universitario. Brunetta gave the home side the lead, but Ángel Sepúlveda equalized from the penalty spot in added time. Prior to that, the teams had played to two 1-1 draws and secured one win apiece (1-0 and 2-1).

Here are the match details:

When, Where, and What Time Does Cruz Azul vs. Tigres Take Place?

City: Mexico City
Stadium: Estadio Olímpico Universitario
Date: Wednesday, December 3
Time: 7:00 PM (Central Mexico Time)

Where to Watch Cruz Azul vs. Tigres on TV and Online Streaming?

Cruz Azul’s Last Five Matches

Tigres’ Last Five Matches

Latest News on Cruz Azul

Following their semifinal berth, Cruz Azul manager Nicolás Larcamón expressed frustration with his team’s performance, citing a lack of concentration. Despite the issues, he ultimately praised his players’ resilience.

“In the first half, we got ourselves into a mess. It was really bad: a lot of lack of concentration and poor management of what the game demanded. In a series like this, a lapse in attention can cost you everything. In the second half, we showed a spirited, emotional, and footballing response. We found solutions to a problem we created ourselves and won with authority,” he said.

The Argentine coach also shared his thoughts on their upcoming opponent, Tigres, acknowledging the tactical challenges ahead.

“The approach will be very different against Tigres. They have a lot of quality in attack. We need to be a proactive team, looking to take the initiative. We can’t rely on reacting again. We put the series at risk with how poorly we started the match, accumulating errors that made things difficult, and that can’t happen at this level. Today we eliminated one of the best teams to finish the championship, if not the best, and we managed to qualify, but we can’t depend on just reacting,” he added.

Latest News on Tigres

In a post-match press conference, Tigres manager Guido Pizarro expressed his delight with his team’s comeback victory, also emphasizing the importance of the fans’ support.

“The first thing was to turn the page as quickly as possible. Internally, we all believed we could turn the series around. I feel a sense of joy for the squad, players who hadn’t been featuring played well. That speaks to their commitment, everyone is focused on helping the team and being a part of it,” said El Conde.

“The fans played for us today… When the fans identify with the team, that’s a very important force,” he added.

Before knowing their semifinal opponent, the Argentine had stated: “There are two great rivals, Monterrey has already achieved their result, we have to wait for the result of Cruz Azul, but understanding that we are going to face great rivals.”