I’ve said it many times before: Liga MX is the most unpredictable league in the world. I’ve written articles pointing out how teams finishing between fifth and eighth place often end up knocking out one of the giants. And last night, that theory was proven right again—only this time, the giant caught off guard was my own club, Tigres.
I’ll be honest: I never imagined Tigres would be the one surprised. Not this season. Not with this squad. To me, Tigres entered the Liguilla as a legitimate title contender, second only to Toluca in overall form. The club finished the regular season with the best defense in the league, conceding fewer goals than anyone else. Tigres had control, experience, and momentum. Everything pointed toward another deep playoff run.
But Liga MX doesn’t care about logic.
In the first leg of the quarterfinals, Tigres was stunned 3–0 by Tijuana—a team that wasn’t expected to pose such a threat. What shocked me most wasn’t the scoreline itself but how thoroughly Tigres was outplayed throughout key stretches of the match. A defense known for discipline suddenly looked vulnerable. A midfield that normally dictates tempo struggled to string passes together. And an attack that usually produces constant danger felt unusually quiet.
Some fans, myself included, tried to hold onto at least one explanation: the absurd hour selected by Liga MX executives. The match kicked off at 11 p.m. Mexico City time, a schedule far from ideal for a club accustomed to much earlier starts. Meanwhile, in Tijuana, local time was a more manageable 9 p.m. So no, the conditions were not identical for both sides.
But even acknowledging the time difference, it remains a weak excuse. Tijuana still had to perform—and it did. Tijuana was sharper, more aggressive, and more decisive from beginning to end. The home side earned its result.
Tough Road in Leg 2
Now Tigres faces a steep uphill battle. Overturning a three-goal deficit in a Liguilla series is anything but simple. It isn’t impossible, but it requires near-perfection and a level of intensity Tigres did not show in the first leg. And if Tigres fails to turn this around, consequences will follow. Fair or not, a collapse of this size could very well cost Pizarro his job as manager. Expectations at Tigres are too high for early exits.
As fans, we’ll have to accept whatever comes. If Tijuana advances, then we must tip our hats—Tijuana played better, was better prepared, and took full advantage of the opportunity. Once again, the Liguilla reminded us of a truth we often ignore: in Liga MX, no club is ever safe, no matter how strong it looks on paper.
I always knew the Liguilla brings surprises. I just didn’t expect Tigres to be the first victim of that unpredictability. If the comeback doesn’t happen, this defeat will sting for a while.
