It's Tigres vs. Club America for all the marbles in Liga MX. Who will come out on top in the final?
Looking for the A to Z of the Liga MX final? Look no further! ESPN FC breaks it all down ahead of Thursday's final first leg between Tigres and Club America at Estadio Azteca (10 p.m. ET).
Form guide
Tigres (LDWWW): Tigres had been building momentum very nicely during the playoffs with a statement-making 5-0 win in the quarterfinal second leg against Pumas and two clinical victories against Leon.
America (DWWLD): A 2-0 loss against Real Madrid in the FIFA Club World Cup last Thursday was just about acceptable for America, as was the draw against Atletico Nacional (even though Las Aguilas went on to lose 4-3 on penalties). Before that, the team had gone 16 matches without losing since Ricardo La Volpe took charge on Sept. 22.
Tigres' 2016 Apertura season
Standard. You know what you get with Tigres, largely because the squad is stacked with talent and Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti has been given the rare luxury in Mexico of having time to implement and then develop a style of play. Tigres finished third in the regular season, but were pretty much already qualified for the Liguilla from the halfway point.
America's 2016 Apertura season
It's been a weird centennial season for Club America. There was so much controversy surrounding the team when Ignacio "Nacho" Ambriz was in charge at the start of the tournament. The playing style wasn't up to the high standard of the club, and when a 3-0 home loss to rival Chivas was followed by another defeat to Leon a few weeks later, the writing was on the wall for Ambriz. La Volpe came in, laid down his 5-3-2 system and helped America to a fifth-place finish, although it must be pointed out that Las Aguilas were in seventh when Ambriz was given his marching orders.
Teams' efforts in the Liguilla
Tigres have been the best side in the Apertura playoffs and strolled past Pumas and Leon to reach the final. French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac had ended his goal-scoring slump and was hitting form before the break -- apparently due to his brushes with hypnotherapy -- and confidence was flowing. However, there has to be a real question mark over just how much the enforced break of 19 days while America competed at the Club World Cup will affect the team's sharpness.
Who will win the Liga MX final?
Over at America, the Liguilla campaign has been efficient. Las Aguilas dispatched Chivas in the quarterfinal in a close-fought affair and were then able to undo an in-form Necaxa with a pragmatic game plan in the semifinal second leg. America has simply found ways to get results under La Volpe. The trip back from Japan won't be easy to deal with, but at least America has been playing competitive matches.
Importance of Liga MX title
America's centennial season will likely be judged on this final, and when you mention Club America you are talking about arguably North America's biggest and most popular institution. The fans demand title No. 13 to take Las Aguilas two beyond Chivas' count of 11. America is also the most hated team in Mexico, so this really is a win-or-bust final for Las Aguilas.
For Tigres, the recent investment in the playing staff at the club was done in an effort to bring titles to the northern Mexico institution. Four championship wins for Tigres pales in comparison to Club America's 12, but the club wants to become one of the big hitters in Mexico for years to come and needs victories in important finals against the likes of Las Aguilas if it is to achieve that feat.
Can Andre-Pierre Gignac and Tigres find another win at Estadio Azteca on Thursday?
Head-to-head records this season
Tigres defeated America 3-0 in the regular-season match back in July at Estadio Azteca. Javier Aquino, Gignac and Ismael Sosa got the goals for Tigres, although the last two were scored after Renato Ibarra had been sent off for America. The final is unlikely to be such a blowout. These teams are arguably the best that Liga MX has to offer in terms of consistency and quality over the past few years.
Injury updates/news
For Tigres, it's a clean bill of health, with the exception of right-back Israel Jimenez, while Paul Aguilar is on the long-term injury list for Las Aguilas.
Impact subs
Tigres coach Ferretti has the strongest and deepest squad in Liga MX, but La Volpe's Club America arguably has the better subs.
It is likely Argentine Lucas Zelarayan will come off the bench for Tigres, who also have French striker Andy Delort and Damien Alvarez as attacking options in reserve. But America's Ecuadorian international Michael Arroyo epitomizes the "super sub" label and performs the role with excellence, taunting defenses and lifting his America teammates and the fans.
Michael Arroyo (second from the right) is the super sub par excellence for Club America.
Managers
What can you say about La Volpe and Ferretti? They are two of the most colorful characters in the Mexican game. Experienced, wily and prone to fits of anger, the competition between the duo should make for fascinating viewing over the two legs of the final.
Ferretti will set his stall out as he always does: Tigres will attempt to dominate possession and thereby control the game. The tactical question hanging over the game is just what La Volpe will do. There has been a real pragmatic streak in La Volpe's America team this season, and everything points to the final being a tight, tactical affair.
X factor players
For Tigres, it is all about Gignac. The France international might not be the captain, but he leads the team and inspires those around him. Gignac holds the mantle of Liga MX's best player and will want to show why in the final.
At America, Oribe Peralta is a big-game player and scores important goals at crucial times. We saw that in the quarterfinal against Chivas, the London 2012 Olympic final and on many other occasions over the past few years. Just whether La Volpe continues to play Peralta in midfield remains to be seen, although with so much on the line, it seems a waste to play such a good finisher so far away from the goal.
Tom Marshall covers Liga MX and the Mexican national team for ESPN FC. Twitter: @MexicoWorldCup.
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