Intense Quarterfinal First Leg Sees Chivas and Cruz Azul Deadlocked at Halftime
The highly anticipated first leg of the Liga MX Apertura 2025 quarterfinals between two of Mexico’s footballing giants, Chivas de Guadalajara and Cruz Azul, has reached halftime with the score tied at 0-0. The match, held at Chivas’ home ground, Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico, on Thursday, November 27, 2025, kicked off at 9:07 PM ET (8:07 PM Central Mexico Time) under the watchful eye of referee Guillermo Pacheco Larios.
Road to the Liguilla: Contrasting Fortunes
Both teams entered this quarterfinal clash with significant momentum, albeit from different trajectories. Chivas, under Gabriel Milito, concluded the regular season in exceptional form, securing a 6th-place finish with 29 points. They boasted an impressive record of nine wins, two draws, and six losses from 17 matches, winning seven of their last eight league games. Their final regular-season fixture was a dominant 4-2 victory over Monterrey, featuring goals from Efrain Alvarez, Armando Gonzalez, Roberto Alvarado, and veteran Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández. Forward Armando González was a standout, finishing as one of the league’s co-Golden Boot winners with 12 goals.
Cruz Azul, led by Nicolás Larcamón, had a more consistent regular season, finishing 3rd in the league table with 35 points from 10 wins, five draws, and two losses. However, their momentum took a slight hit in their final regular-season match, suffering a 3-2 home defeat to Pumas UNAM. Despite this setback, La Máquina Celeste had shown formidable form earlier in the season, maintaining an impressive undefeated start, as reported by digitaltrendstoday.com. Their attack is spearheaded by Ángel Sepúlveda and Gabriel Fernández, who each netted seven goals during the regular campaign.
First Half Action: A Battle of Defenses
The opening 45 minutes at Estadio Akron proved to be a cagey affair, with both sides prioritizing defensive solidity. Chivas started brightly, with Bryan Gonzalez narrowly missing an early opener in the 3rd minute. Cruz Azul soon gained control of possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a disciplined Chivas defense. Key moments in the first half included:
- 3′: Chivas’ Bryan Gonzalez’s shot went just wide.
- 15′: José Castillo of Chivas made a crucial block to deny Cruz Azul’s Ángel Sepúlveda.
- 22′: Chivas forward Armando Gonzalez had a significant opportunity, but his shot was saved by Cruz Azul goalkeeper Andrés Gudiño.
- 25′: Daniel Aguirre of Chivas received the first yellow card of the match.
- 29′: Armando Gonzalez’s header for Chivas went off target.
- 37′: Cruz Azul’s Jose Paradela attempted a shot from outside the box, but it went wide.
Despite the efforts, neither team managed to break the deadlock, setting the stage for an intense second half.
Team News and Tactical Considerations
Cruz Azul entered the match with several notable absences. Starting goalkeeper Kevin Mier is sidelined with a leg injury, expected to be out until April 2026, a significant blow for La Máquina. Other injured players include Jorge Rodarte and Carlos Rotondi, while Lorenzo Faravelli is serving a red-card suspension. Chivas is without Diego Campillo due to injury.
The probable lineups saw Chivas fielding José Rangel in goal, with a defense including Bryan Gonzalez, Jose Castillo, and Daniel Aguirre. Their midfield featured Luis Romo, Omar Govea, and Fernando Gonzalez, supporting attackers Efrain Alvarez, Richard Ledezma, Roberto Alvarado, and Armando Gonzalez up front. Cruz Azul countered with Andres Gudiño in goal, a backline of Jorge Sanchez, Willer Ditta, and Gonzalo Piovi. Their midfield comprised Erik Lira, Jose Rivero, Angel Marquez, Carlos Rodriguez, and Jose Paradela, with Carlos Rotondi and Angel Sepulveda leading the attack.
Historical Context and What’s at Stake
Historically, this rivalry has been tightly contested. In 64 previous encounters, Chivas holds 19 wins, 24 draws, and 21 losses against Cruz Azul. Their most recent regular-season meeting on August 30, 2025, saw Cruz Azul defeat Chivas 2-1 at Estadio Akron. The last time these two met in the Liguilla quarterfinals was in the 2006 Apertura, where Chivas advanced with a 4-2 aggregate score. With the second leg scheduled for Sunday, November 30, at Estadio Olímpico Universitario, both teams will be desperate to gain an advantage in the second half to carry into Mexico City.
Where to Watch
Fans in the U.S. can catch the action on UNIVERSO and Peacock (Spanish), as well as Fubo, DirecTV Stream, ViX, TUDN USA, and Univision. In Mexico, the match is available on Prime Video, Canal 5, TUDN, and ViX.
