The quarterfinals of the Apertura playoffs in Mexico’s Liga MX are almost done, and with the second leg of the tie between Tigres and Pumas starting with a 2-2 scoreline, it’s still anyone’s match to win with a spot in the semifinals on the line.
Tigres vs. Pumas 2016: Time, live stream, TV schedule, and 3 things to know for Liga MX playoffs
The Apertura quarterfinals are in their second leg, with Tigres hoping their away goal advantage can throw this tie in their favor.
Of course, with two away goals in hand, Tigres are coming into this match with a bit of an advantage. If they score an early goal, it will force Pumas to score twice to overcome that tiebreaker, encouraging them to open up their team in a way that could give opportunities for Tigres to score more goals — digging the hole even deeper for Pumas.
No matter what, the format and stakes of the Liguilla playoffs and the passion of both of these teams mean that this match should be a lot of fun to watch, and that is always a good thing.
TV: Univision Deportes (U.S., Spanish), TDN, Sky HD, Canal de las Estrellas (Mexico)
Online: SKY Planeta Futbol (Mexico)
Match date/time: Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Universitario de Nuevo León, San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
Three big things to know
- This matchup is a vitally important one for Tigres, who will be eager to defend their Apertura title from a year ago. That’s especially true after their disappointing Clausura campaign in the spring — bouncing back from that with a second straight Apertura title would be a great way to declare to the rest of Mexico that not only have they not fallen off, but they’re also ready to be one of the elite teams in Liga MX.
- Pumas will be eager to get a win here as well, giving themselves their best shot at earning a title in some time. They haven’t won any trophies since the 2011 Clausura, but a semifinal berth with the team that they currently have would give them a realistic shot at reaching the final — and then, perhaps, at spending the winter celebrating an Apertura title.
- Regardless of the outcome of this match, it will be interesting to see how these two teams evolve between the final whistle and the next time they’re slated to square off, in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals in February. They’ll both be looking to adapt and grow significantly to improve overall as teams, but you can’t help but think that at least some of the changes they make this winter will be made with that matchup in mind.
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