América vs Cruz Azul: Opportunity for revenge

With their pride hurt by their recent elimination from the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, América will visit Cruz Azul tonight in the first leg of the 2025 Clausura Tournament semifinal.

Both teams come into the match with recent history, adding to the tension. In April, the Blues eliminated the Azulcremas from the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, giving the series an air of revenge, in addition to the usual rivalry between the two teams, one of the most bitter in the championship.

Led by Brazilian André Jardine, the Águilas have won the last three league tournaments. In the most recent, the 2024 Apertura, they eliminated Cruz Azul in the semifinals with a last-minute goal.

The semifinal series appears evenly matched. The team coached by Uruguayan Vicente Sánchez was the only team to win both matches in the quarterfinals, while Coapa drew the first leg against Pachuca and then convincingly defeated them in the second leg.

Cruz Azul will have top scorer Ángel Sepúlveda, Uruguayan Ignacio Rivero, and Argentine Rodolfo Rotondi as key players in attack. The team will try to take advantage today at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, ahead of Sunday's decisive match at América.

The Eagles will face the series with the benefit of a tiebreaker based on their highest position in the standings, which would allow them to advance if they are tied on aggregate. Jardine plans to take advantage of that advantage, although his team will be looking for a favorable result starting tonight.

In a press conference beforehand, Jardine stated that his team is not approaching the game against Cruz Azul with a desire for revenge after their elimination from CONCACAF.

"We don't have the feeling of revenge; it changes the perspective from the Concacaf tournament to the league. We fight for our greatness and goals. The feeling of winning and reaching a fourth consecutive final is more important than the feeling of revenge itself," the Brazilian coach stated.

"In CONCACAF, we were without our two center forwards and had to find new ways to attack. We had many opportunities, but we lacked decisiveness. Now that we have Henry and Aguirre ready, it changes because it increases our attacking possibilities," he said.

Brian Rodríguez was able to train on the field and do ball exercises, although he has not been able to join the group's training.

He also highlighted the growing relevance of this rivalry, fueled by recent clashes in key venues.

"In recent tournaments, América and Cruz Azul have increased the level of importance of this game due to the qualifiers and titles contested. This is good for Mexican soccer and for us," he concluded.—EFE