The Liga MX playoffs delivered another chapter of heart-stopping drama as Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club de Fútbol 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, watched by a roaring home crowd and millions more across borders, ended with neither side breaking through — but the implications? They’re enormous.
A Clash of Contrasts
Chivas entered the match on a three-match winning streak, riding high after a dominant regular season. Their fans called it "rebaño sagrado" energy — sacred flock, unstoppable. Cruz Azul, meanwhile, limped in. Their starting goalkeeper, Kevin Mier, was out with a knee injury, leaving them with a makeshift backline and a glaring vulnerability. The "Cementeros" hadn’t won in their last three games. The weight of history, and the absence of their anchor between the posts, hung heavy.
At the 90'+1' minute, it looked like Chivas might steal it. Substitute Miguel Gómez rose above the defense, connecting with a cross from Daniel Aguirre. His header — clean, powerful — skimmed just wide of the post. The stadium gasped. Then fell silent. That was it. The final whistle blew at 90'+4'. 0-0.
The Broadcast Maze
For fans in the U.S., the match was available on multiple platforms — a reflection of how fragmented Liga MX’s media rights have become. Peacock Premium streamed it live in English at 9:07 PM UTC, while USA Network aired it on linear TV. In Mexico, Amazon Prime was the exclusive home for Chivas matches, a deal that surprised many but now feels inevitable as streaming reshapes football consumption. Meanwhile, Telemundo Deportes carried the Spanish-language feed, and ViX+ offered digital access within Mexico. The confusion? CBS Sports listed a "Cruz Azul vs. Chivas" game on November 30 in Missouri — a clear error, likely a replay or mislabeled event. No match was played in Saint Charles. Only in Zapopan did history unfold.
The Away Goals Rule: A Silent Advantage
Here’s the twist: with the score tied 0-0, Cruz Azul now holds the upper hand — not because they played better, but because of the away goals rule still active in Liga MX playoffs. If the second leg ends in a 1-1, 2-2, or any draw where goals are scored, Cruz Azul advances. Chivas must win outright. No draws will do. It’s a brutal, old-school rule that rewards road teams — and punishes home advantage when it doesn’t yield goals.
Chivas fans know this pain. They’ve been on the wrong side of it before. In 2019, they lost to Tigres on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw. Now, they’re facing the same fate again — only this time, they’re the ones with home-field advantage and no goals to show for it.
The Rivalry That Never Sleeps
This was the 142nd meeting between these two giants — the Clásico Joven. Chivas, founded in 1906 in Guadalajara, is Mexico’s most popular club, a symbol of regional pride. Cruz Azul, founded in 1927 in Jasso, Hidalgo, moved to Mexico City in 1971 and became the nation’s industrial powerhouse — the "Machine" with a blue-and-white identity. Their clashes are more than football. They’re cultural battles. Urban vs. provincial. Tradition vs. modernity. And now, they’re tied on the scoreboard — but not on destiny.
What Comes Next?
The second leg arrives on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City. Cruz Azul will play without Mier, but with desperation. Chivas will play with pressure — the weight of their home crowd’s expectations. The lineup? Chivas’s Raúl Rangel will need to be flawless. Luis Romo and Jose Castillo must shut down Cruz Azul’s wingers. And for Cruz Azul, the question isn’t just who replaces Mier — it’s whether their midfield, led by Álvarez and Richard Ledezma, can create chances without the threat of a clinical finisher.
One thing’s certain: the next 72 hours will be a frenzy of tactical adjustments, injury updates, and fan hysteria. The away goals rule makes this more than a football match. It’s a psychological chess game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Cruz Azul have an advantage after a 0-0 draw?
Because of Liga MX’s away goals rule: if the aggregate score is tied after both legs, the team that scored more goals away from home advances. Since Cruz Azul played the first leg away and didn’t concede, any 1-1, 2-2, or similar draw in Mexico City sends them through. Chivas must win by at least one goal to avoid that scenario.
How did Kevin Mier’s injury impact Cruz Azul’s performance?
Mier, Cruz Azul’s starting goalkeeper, was sidelined with a knee injury, forcing backup Andrés Rentería into action. Rentería, while reliable in the past, had never started a playoff match. Chivas created 11 clear chances — the most in any Liga MX playoff game this season — but Rentería made only three saves. Still, his lack of playoff experience showed in timing and command, especially on crosses and set pieces.
Which broadcasters had rights to the match in the U.S. and Mexico?
In the U.S., Peacock Premium and USA Network carried the English broadcast, while Telemundo Deportes offered Spanish. In Mexico, Amazon Prime held exclusive rights to Chivas matches, and ViX+ streamed all Liga MX games digitally. The fragmentation reflects a new era where rights are split by language, platform, and team.
Is the away goals rule likely to be removed in future seasons?
Yes. Liga MX has signaled plans to eliminate away goals after the 2025 season, following FIFA’s global trend. The rule is seen as outdated — it discourages attacking play in the first leg and rewards defensive stalling. But for now, it’s still in effect, making this second leg one of the most high-stakes in recent memory.
What’s the historical significance of this Clásico Joven matchup?
This was the 142nd meeting between Chivas and Cruz Azul since Cruz Azul moved to Mexico City in 1971. Chivas leads the all-time series 62-48-31, but Cruz Azul has won the last three playoff encounters, including the 2019 quarterfinals. This match adds another layer to a rivalry that’s defined Mexican football for over 50 years — not just in results, but in identity, fan culture, and regional pride.
What’s the schedule for the second leg?
The second leg is scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 8:07 PM local time at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City. Broadcast details will be confirmed by Liga MX within 48 hours, but expect Amazon Prime, Peacock, and Telemundo to carry it again. Attendance is expected to exceed 50,000 — the largest playoff crowd in Mexico City since 2022.
