Chivas need a miracle. Down 1-3 from the first leg at the Estadio Universitario, the second-seeded side comes home to the Akron knowing exactly what's required: a two-goal win to force the aggregate tie and advance on seeding, or three goals to settle it outright.

The hill is steeper than the scoreline suggests. Tigres haven't lost to Chivas in nine consecutive meetings, going 5-4-0 in that span. The reverse fixture in the regular season was 4-1 to Tigres. Last week's first leg was 3-1.

Gabriel Milito's side has been quietly competent for stretches of the Clausura. They finished second on points and won the regular-season title on goal difference over Pumas, and Armando González has been the league's top goalscorer with 12 in 17. But they have not solved Tigres.

Guido Pizarro's team came in as the seven seed and has been the best version of itself in this tournament. Ángel Correa has been the difference, with 6 goals and 8 assists. Juan Brunetta has 8 goals and 5 assists from midfield. André-Pierre Gignac is on the bench again, but Tigres have barely needed him. They beat Nashville SC twice in the Concacaf Champions Cup, dispatched Mazatlán 5-1, and now have one foot in the semifinal.

The Akron will be loud. Saturday night in Guadalajara with the season on the line. But Chivas have to score early and keep scoring, and they have to do it against a side that has spent the last nine matches making sure they don't.

Chivas vs Tigres Prediction

The numbers favor Tigres. They've won three of the last four meetings, the regular-season fixture, and the first leg. Chivas have not beaten them since 2023.

Even at home, even with the season on the line, the comeback Chivas need would require both sides of a Tigres team that has been the most balanced unit in this tournament.

Most likely outcome: Tigres get an early road goal that effectively ends the tie, or hold a 1-0 lead at half and ride the result.

Chivas need a 2-0 lead by halftime to make it interesting.

What Time Do Chivas Play Tigres?

Chivas vs Tigres kicks off at 9:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 9 at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. That's 8:05 p.m. CT and 7:05 p.m. local time in Mexico.

How Chivas Advance to the Liga MX Semifinals

Chivas need to win by two goals to force a 3-3 aggregate tie and advance on regular-season seeding, or win by three goals or more to advance outright. Any other result sends Tigres through.

Predicted Lineups

Chivas (4-4-2): Whalley; Marín, Tapias, Campillo, González; Sandoval, Govea, Ledezma, Castillo; Álvarez, González.

Tigres (4-2-3-1): Guzmán; Garza, Rômulo, Reyes, Angulo; Araújo, Gorriarán; Correa, Brunetta, Flores; Aguirre.

Form Coming In

Chivas: lost 3-1 to Tigres in first leg, drew 0-0 with Tijuana, drew 0-0 with Necaxa, beat Puebla 5-0, lost 4-1 to Tigres in regular season. Have not beaten Tigres in nine straight matches.

Tigres: beat Chivas 3-1 in first leg, beat Nashville SC 1-0, beat Nashville SC 1-0, beat Mazatlán 5-1, drew 0-0 with Atlas. Six matches unbeaten.

How to Watch Chivas vs Tigres in the USA

  • Chivas vs Tigres is available in the United States on Telemundo, Peacock, and Univision.
  • The match kicks off at 9:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 9 at the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara.

The winner advances to the Liga MX Clausura semifinals.

Liga MX Liguilla Quarterfinals

First Legs (FT)

  • Tigres 3, Chivas 1
  • Atlas 2, Cruz Azul 3
  • América 3, Pumas 3
  • Toluca 0, Pachuca 1

Second Legs

  • Saturday, May 9 — Chivas vs Tigres, 9:05 p.m. ET
  • Saturday, May 9 — Cruz Azul vs Atlas, 11:15 p.m. ET
  • Sunday, May 10 — Pachuca vs Toluca, 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Sunday, May 10 — Pumas vs América, 9:15 p.m. ET

Chivas Squad 2025-26

  • 1 - Raúl Rangel - GK
  • 13 - Óscar Whalley - GK
  • 30 - Eduardo García - GK
  • 3 - Gilberto Sepúlveda - DEF
  • 4 - Miguel Tapias - DEF
  • 19 - Diego Campillo - DEF
  • 21 - José Castillo - DEF
  • 24 - Miguel Gómez - DEF
  • 27 - Leonardo Sepúlveda - DEF
  • 37 - Richard Ledezma - DEF
  • 56 - Ángel Chávez - DEF
  • 5 - Bryan González - MID
  • 6 - Omar Govea - MID
  • 7 - Luis Romo - MID
  • 11 - Brian Gutiérrez - MID
  • 15 - Érick Gutiérrez - MID
  • 23 - Daniel Aguirre - MID
  • 26 - Hugo Camberos - MID
  • 28 - Fernando González - MID
  • 225 - Cristian Inda - MID
  • 226 - Santiago Sandoval - MID
  • 9 - Alan Pulido - FWD
  • 10 - Efraín Álvarez - FWD
  • 17 - Ricardo Marín - FWD
  • 20 - Ángel Sepúlveda - FWD
  • 25 - Roberto Alvarado - FWD
  • 31 - Jonathan Padilla - FWD
  • 34 - Armando González - FWD
  • 67 - Sergio Aguayo - FWD

Tigres Squad 2025-26

  • 1 - Nahuel Guzmán - GK
  • 13 - Antonio Carrera - GK
  • 25 - Carlos Rodríguez - GK
  • 2 - Francisco Reyes - DEF
  • 3 - Marco Farfán - DEF
  • 4 - Juanjo Purata - DEF
  • 26 - Fernando Ordóñez - DEF
  • 27 - Jesús Angulo - DEF
  • 28 - Joaquim - DEF
  • 32 - Vladimir Loroña - DEF
  • 33 - Rafael Guerrero - DEF
  • 35 - Osvaldo Rodríguez - DEF
  • 5 - César Araujo - MID
  • 6 - Juan Pablo Vigón - MID
  • 8 - Fernando Gorriarán - MID
  • 11 - Juan Brunetta - MID
  • 14 - Jesús Garza - MID
  • 16 - Diego Lainez - MID
  • 23 - Rômulo - MID
  • 24 - Marcelo Flores - MID
  • 204 - Henrique Simeone Koifman - MID
  • 7 - Ángel Correa - FWD
  • 10 - André-Pierre Gignac - FWD
  • 17 - Rodrigo Aguirre - FWD
  • 19 - Edgar López - FWD
  • 30 - Diego Sánchez - FWD
  • 77 - Ozziel Herrera - FWD
  • 198 - Isaías Galván - FWD

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