The Liga MX playoffs delivered another classic clash as Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Cruz Azul played out a tense 0-0 draw in the first leg of their 2025 Apertura quarterfinal on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Jalisco. The match, which ended at 9:50 PM CST after three minutes of stoppage time, left Chivas needing a win in the return leg to advance — no draws, no goals on the road, no mercy. Goalkeeper José 'Tala' Rangel, 28, was the unsung hero, denying Jesús Márquez’s header in the 81st minute and turning away a thunderous strike from the edge of the box in the 87th. He didn’t just keep a clean sheet — he kept Chivas’ season alive.
Defensive Fortitude Over Offensive Firepower
Chivas came into this match riding the momentum of a strong regular season finish, finishing 5th with 31 points from 17 games. Cruz Azul, just behind in 6th with 29, entered with a different mission: control, contain, and strike when the moment cracked open. And for long stretches, they did. The visitors dominated possession early, suffocating Chivas’ midfield and forcing them into reactive football. But the Rebaño didn’t panic. Instead, they tightened up. Every pass was challenged. Every run was cut off. By halftime, Cruz Azul had 62% of the ball — but zero shots on target.
It was the second half that shifted. Chivas, fueled by the home crowd and a tactical nudge from coach Matías Almeyda, pressed higher. Quick combinations in the first third turned into constant pressure. Efraín Álvarez, 22, darted through lanes like a lightning bolt. Luis Romo, 29, anchored the middle with grit. And Roberto Alvarado, 27, kept defenders guessing with his unpredictable runs. But precision? That was missing. Three clear chances in the final 20 minutes — all wasted. A header from Miguel Gómez in the 91st minute, assisted by Daniel Aguirre, flew just wide. A one-touch pass from Fernando González slipped under Armando González’s foot at the near post. The frustration was palpable. Fans held their breath. Players clenched their fists.
Goalkeeper Crisis and Tactical Shifts
Cruz Azul’s biggest blow came before kickoff. Starter Kevin Mier, the Colombian shot-stopper who had been their rock all season, was ruled out with an injury. In stepped Andrés Gudiño, 30, a veteran who hadn’t started a playoff game in over two years. He didn’t just show up — he shined. He made two critical stops in the 35th and 52nd minutes, including a fingertip save on a curling free kick from Efraín Álvarez. His calm under pressure gave Cruz Azul’s backline confidence. Coach Gabriel Milito, the 54-year-old Argentine tactician, didn’t try to out-attack Chivas. He outlasted them. And it worked.
Substitutions told the story. Chivas brought on Gilberto Sepúlveda and Hugo Camberos to inject energy. Cruz Azul swapped in Teun Wilke, the 23-year-old Dutch winger, to stretch the defense. But neither team could find the breakthrough. Referee Guillermo Pacheco Larios kept a tight rein, issuing four yellow cards — two for Chivas, two for Cruz Azul — but never letting the match boil over. The physicality was high. The tension, higher.
What the Numbers Don’t Show
Statistically, it was a stalemate. Chivas had 48% possession. They created seven shot attempts to Cruz Azul’s five. But the numbers don’t capture the weight of missed opportunities. Jesús Márquez, Cruz Azul’s striker, had his best chance in the 86th minute — a one-on-one with Rangel — and blasted it wide. The crowd groaned. The players stared at the sky. That’s playoff soccer. One moment, one touch, one decision — and the whole narrative flips.
Estadio Akron, the venue, added another layer. It’s not just a stadium — it’s a World Cup 2026 host site. The pitch was flawless. The lights blazed. The atmosphere crackled. This wasn’t just a quarterfinal. It was a preview of what international football in Mexico could look like. And for Chivas fans, it was a reminder: they’ve been here before. The 2006 Apertura final. The 2017 Clausura semifinal. Always the near-miss. Always the heartbreak.
The Return Leg: Win or Go Home
The second leg, scheduled for Sunday, November 30, 2025, at 7:00 PM CST at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, is a do-or-die for Chivas. A draw? They’re out. A loss? Same. Only a win — any score — gets them through. Cruz Azul, meanwhile, can afford to play defensively. A 0-0 draw in the capital? They advance on away goals. A 1-1? Same. Even a 2-2 would send them through if they score away.
“We didn’t play our best,” said Chivas captain Luis Romo after the match. “But we didn’t lose. That’s something. Now we go to the capital with everything on the line.”
Cruz Azul’s coach, Milito, was more measured. “The result is fair. We knew Chivas would press. We knew they’d create chances. We held firm. Now we prepare for a different kind of battle.”
Historical Context: The Rivalry That Never Sleeps
This isn’t just any playoff tie. Chivas and Cruz Azul have been Mexico’s most storied rivalry since the 1960s. They’ve met in 17 playoff series since 1990. Only four times has the first leg ended 0-0. And in all four cases, the team that hosted the second leg advanced — three times by a single goal. Chivas won the last playoff meeting in 2021, in dramatic fashion — a 3-2 aggregate win after a 1-1 draw in Mexico City. That memory still lingers.
But this time, the script is flipped. Chivas, the home team in the first leg, now faces the pressure of an away win. Cruz Azul, the visitors, now hold the psychological edge. The weight of history is heavy. The stakes? Higher than ever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Chivas need to win by any score in the second leg?
Because the first leg ended 0-0, Cruz Azul holds the away goals advantage. If the second leg ends in a draw — say 1-1 or 2-2 — Cruz Azul advances on away goals. Only a Chivas win, regardless of the scoreline, cancels that advantage and sends them through. Even a 1-0 win in Mexico City would be enough.
How did Kevin Mier’s injury impact Cruz Azul’s strategy?
Mier, the Colombian starter, had started all 17 regular-season games and was Cruz Azul’s most reliable defender. His absence forced coach Gabriel Milito to rely on veteran Andrés Gudiño, who played conservatively, often staying deep and limiting risk. This led to a more cautious approach in the first leg, especially in the final third, where Cruz Azul prioritized not conceding over creating chances.
What makes Estadio Olímpico Universitario a challenging venue for Chivas?
Chivas has won only once in their last seven visits to the Estadio Olímpico Universitario since 2018. The altitude (2,240 meters above sea level) saps stamina, and the partisan crowd — mostly Cruz Azul supporters — creates an intimidating atmosphere. In 2021, Chivas won 2-1 there, but only after a last-minute goal. This time, they’ll need more than luck.
Who are the key players to watch in the second leg?
For Chivas, Efraín Álvarez and Roberto Alvarado must turn chances into goals — they created six of the team’s seven shots in the first leg. For Cruz Azul, Teun Wilke’s pace on the wing could exploit Chivas’ fullbacks, while midfielder Érick Gutiérrez will be crucial in controlling tempo. And if Rangel plays again, he’ll need to be just as sharp — because Cruz Azul will be more aggressive.
Has any team ever come back from a 0-0 first leg to win a Liga MX playoff series?
Yes — but rarely. Since 2010, only three teams have won a playoff series after a 0-0 first leg away from home. All three won the second leg 2-0 or higher. The last time it happened was in 2020, when Tigres UANL defeated América 2-0 at home after a 0-0 draw in Mexico City. Chivas will need that same kind of clinical finish — and a little bit of magic.
What’s at stake beyond advancing to the semifinals?
For Chivas, a semifinal berth means a shot at their first league title since 2006 — and a chance to silence critics who say the club is stuck in the past. For Cruz Azul, it’s a path to their first title since 2021, and a chance to prove they’re rebuilding into a true powerhouse. Both clubs carry generations of expectation. This isn’t just about points — it’s about legacy.
