Get ready for the Liga MX final! Can Chivas win their 13th title and equal the historic record from archrivals Club America? Are Tigres on course to lift a championship with their third manager in charge since February?
Starting with the first leg on Thursday at the Estadio Universitario of Tigres and ending with the second leg on Sunday at the Estadio Akron of Chivas, this week will define the winners of the 2023 Clausura tournament. Here’s everything you need to know about the two finalists.
– Final standings of Liga MX | Liga MX coverage on ESPN Deportes
– Futbol Americas on ESPN+: MLS, Liga MX, USMNT, El Tri
CHIVAS
(Regular season: 3rd place, 10W-4D-3L)
How did they get here
Momentum is crucial in the playoffs and no one has run the Liguilla in better form than Chivas. Charging into the postseason with a four-game winning streak, the rojiblancos then lost not just one rival in the playoffs, but two through Atlas in the quarterfinal Clasico Tapatio and Club America in the semifinal Clasico Nacional.
All is not easy though for new manager Veljko Paunovic and Chivas’ signature all-Mexican roster. In the quarters, Chivas had to recover from a 1-0 deficit in the first leg and advanced to the next round with a higher seed tiebreaker after a 1-1 aggregate draw in the second leg. Against Club America in the semis, Chivas again went down 1-0 in the first leg before bouncing back in the second leg with a convincing 3-1 win that put them 3-2 on aggregate.
Strengths/weaknesses
In a surprisingly quick time in his first season as a manager in Liga MX, Paunovic made his team defensive and organized mostly in a 4-1-4-1 or 4 -3-3 formation. There was a significant increase in confidence from the backline in 2023, and although they made mistakes, goalkeeper Miguel “Wacho” Jimenez did a fantastic job with his countless highlight-worthy moments in net .
Against Club America in the semifinal second leg, Paunovic also showed that he can be a master tactician as well with a surprise 3-man defense that silenced Liga MX’s leading goalscorer Henry Martin.
And yet, Chivas often find themselves narrowly bound by the results of their manager who often refers to the pragmatism of risk. That strategy worked overall this season but led to two 1-0 losses in the playoffs. On the surface, the attack continues to feel like a work-in-progress for their coach who seems unsure whether he wants to use a real striker or a false nine. Things improved in their aerial duels in the postseason, but they also had constant issues all year when fighting for the ball in the air.
Who is their MVP?
Winger/forward Alexis Vega was better during the playoffs, but attacking midfielder Victor Guzman showed up for a big performance. The 28-year-old, who has seven goals and two assists in Liga MX play since late January, has done everything for Chivas with his playmaking, distribution and willingness to take shots. if needed.
Credit must also be given to Jimenez in net. Despite some moments in the head of 2023 that earned him criticism, the goalkeeper has more than made up for those with a long list of dramatic saves that emerged in the last minutes of matches. In the playoffs, he averaged just one goal allowed per game.
What a title means for the club
A championship would mean a return to greatness for the Liga MX giants who have recently run and run their tracks through disappointing seasons. It hasn’t been long since their last league title in the 2017 Clausura, but the last few years have felt like an eternity for Liga MX’s second most successful team to finally return to a final after their final season of the championship. .
That “second most successful” moniker will also disappear if they beat Tigres this week. With a title in hand, Chivas will equal the all-time Liga MX record of 13 championships held by their historic rivals Club America, whom they defeated in the semifinal round.
A trophy would also bolster further optimism about the new era for the club under Paunovic and technical director Fernando Hierro, both hired last October. After a long stretch of no appearances in the finals and several changes in personnel, Paunovic and Hierro look like the team is headed in the right direction.
TIGERS
(Regular season: 7th place, 7W-4D-6L)
How did they get here
This section should probably be replaced with “They got here?” considering their rollercoaster season.
In early February and after five games in charge for Diego Cocca, Tigres pulled a you didn’t break up with me, I broke up with you after deciding to “end the working relationship” with their coach who accepted a position with Mexico’s men’s national team.
Former Tigres player Marco Antonio “Chima” Ruiz took charge in his first game on February 11, but after a nine-game absence that ended with a four-game losing streak in Liga MX and a poor attack, Ruiz was fired and replaced by Robert Dante Siboldi in April.
Siboldi is the third manager of Tigres since February and the fourth since November. And while little progress has been made under him, that hasn’t stopped the talent-heavy team from deteriorating as it beat Toluca (5-4 on aggregate) in the quarterfinals and cruised past crosstown rival Monterrey (2-1 on aggregate ) in the semifinals.
Strengths/weaknesses
You can’t deny the experience and star power of the team with marquee-name veterans like Nahuel Guzman, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Guido Pizarro, Luis Quiñones and other excellent players. At their best, they are the most brutal attacking team in Mexico with a terrifying variety of tools and options at their disposal.
Siboldi continues to make changes in his work that he has done for more than a month, but what helps Tigres is not as heavy as before in their possession of the 4-2-3-1 system (3-5-). 2 on Saturday). At the heart of the XI, they were completely transformed by the surging form of arguably the MVP of the playoffs so far: attacking midfielder Sebastian Cordova.
The Tigers are a bit of a mess though and have yet to maintain any sort of consistency. With the managerial changes, part of their problems are due to experienced names like 37-year-old forward Gignac who seem to be past their peak. In goal as well, Guzman’s arrogance and unpredictable nature gradually became a hindrance rather than a significant X-factor.
Who is their MVP?
In an impressive roster full of superstars, their MVP is someone who doesn’t even make the list of their seven most skilled players.
Cordova, an unexpected hero with a goal in all five of Tigres’ playoff games this season, is a key reason why they are still alive in the race for a title. The 25-year-old Mexico international became a threat in May not only with his goalscoring, but also with his passing in the final third.
Gignac should also be given a shout-out, despite his waning power. Even with his reduced pace and finishing, his talents remain superior to most strikers in the league. There are no signs that he will be leaving Tigres anytime soon, but considering his age and the need to redevelop Tigres’ squad, this could be one of the French star’s last opportunities to get an impressive fifth Liga MX championship with the team.
What a title means for the club
This is another example of the growing power of modern Mexican soccer from the Nuevo Leon club in the north. Often living in the shadows of traditional giants like Club America and Chivas, big-spending teams like Monterrey and Tigres have captured the 21st-century spotlight with their star-studded rosters, trophies, and passionate fanbase.
Although the two have not yet reached the same level when it comes to the total number of Liga MX trophies, progress has been made, and especially for Tigres. While the Tigres currently have seven league championships under their belt — compared to Club America’s 13 and Chivas’ 12 — four of them have come in just the last 10 years.
If a seventh-placed Tigres with three managers this season can lift a title, imagine what a stronger team with a concrete coaching plan would look like.
