Liga MX has entered the final stage. Four clubs will fight to earn the league's supremacy, and both semifinals will have their first leg played tonight, as Tigres visit Toluca with their sights on their third win this semester against Los Diablos. Right after that game is over, Monterrey host the Apertura2014 leaders Club America, hoping to shock Antonio Mohamed's men.
The rivalry between Tigres and Toluca has escalated in the past year, with former Paraguayan striker Jose Cardozo coaching los Diablos Rojos. On the other side of the pitch, Ricardo Ferreti will show his expertise to defeat a club he once coached, back in 2003. Cardozo has never hidden he is not really fond of Ferretti, and will try to beat his former mentor for the first time this semester.
On the pitch, there should be the same amount of controversy, with Lucas Lobos playing against his former team-mates. Lobos left Tigres during the past transfer window, and has established himself as Toluca's playmaker. It will be Egidio Arevalo's duty to stop the former Tigres' midfielder, in a match that will surely provide lots of emotions to both club's supporters.
Tigres and Toluca in their Round 17 matchup. Tigres overcame Toluca 2-1, securing the second seed in the Apertura 2014 playoffs.
Minutes after that game ends, Monterrey will try to run for greatness one more time against America. Los Rayados managed to eliminate Atlas on Sunday, and have arrived to the semi finals with nothing to lose. Their fate should be decided by Dorlan Pabon and Humberto Suazo. Both South American strikers carry all the weight of Monterrey's offense, with their speed and quickness as their top weapons to defeat America's well placed defense.
On the other side of the pitch, America will try to repeat their 2013 history, when they eliminated Pumas and Monterrey to reach another Final series. Las Aguilas will not have Mexican international Paul Aguilar starting as right back, which could make things complicated for Antonio Mohamed. The rest of the team is ready, with striker Oribe Peralta recovering his top form, and with co-captains Rubens Sambueza and Miguel Layun ready to make their third trip to the Finals in the last four tournaments.
América and Monterrey during their Apertura 2014 meeting at Estadio Azteca. Las Aguilas won that match 2-0.
