After years of internal turmoil and flirtation with relegation to Ascenso MX, Guadalajara are on the verge of regaining their status as one of the top clubs in Mexico with a two-legged Liga MX final against Tigres this week. This will be the first league final for Chivas in just over 10 years.
#PorSiNoLoViste GL de Néstor Calderón@Chivas 1-0 @TolucaFC
VUELTA #Semifinal #Clausura2017 #LIGABancomerMX
#SienteTuLiga pic.twitter.com/i9YhlH31zm— LIGA Bancomer MX (@LIGABancomerMX) May 21, 2017
The 2016-17 season has seen Chivas grow in stature throughout, beginning with a loss to Queretaro in the 2016 Apertura Copa MX Final and elimination to America in the quarterfinals of the Apertura Liguilla, and now reaching a peak with victory in the 2017 Clausura Copa MX Final and a date in the final of the Clausura Liguilla. Their opponents, Tigres, were the Apertura winners.
Advancing to the final of the tournament has already assured Chivas of a place in the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League — it’ll be their first appearance in the region’s premier club competition since 2012-13.
#NOTA: Clubes que Jugarán la Liga de Campeones 2017-2018 | https://t.co/bAVBlQn3tg pic.twitter.com/OHer1yT5Cj
— LIGA Bancomer MX (@LIGABancomerMX) May 22, 2017
Rodolfo Cota has been one of the better goalkeepers in Liga MX throughout the Clausura, and Oswaldo Alanis has been one of the league’s best defenders. Going forward, Rodolfo Pizarro, 23, Orbelin Pineda, 21, and Alan Pulido, 26, can each hurt opponents in different ways.
But Chivas are coming up against an opponent that has navigated these high-pressure situations before, and there’s no disputing the wealth of talent Tigres possesses with Andre-Pierre Gignac, Jesus Duenas, Javier Aquino, Jurgen Damm, Ismael Sosa and Eduardo Vargas.
#PorSiNoLoViste GL de Javier Aquino@Xolos 0-1 @TigresOficial
VUELTA #Semifinal #Clausura2017 #LIGABancomerMX
#SienteTuLiga pic.twitter.com/lCWUzI1bnK— LIGA Bancomer MX (@LIGABancomerMX) May 22, 2017
The first leg will take place on Thursday, May 25 at Estadio Universitario. The second leg will be on Sunday, May 28 at Estadio Chivas.
Es OFICIAL
Aquí están fechas y horarios para la #GranFinal del #Clausura2017 en #LIGABancomerMX
#SienteTuLiga #PorUnMéxicoLimpio pic.twitter.com/xx2EIohufO— LIGA Bancomer MX (@LIGABancomerMX) May 22, 2017