On November 27, 2025, Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Cruz Azul played out a tense, goalless 0-0 draw in the first leg of the Apertura 2025 Liga MX quarterfinalsEstadio Akron in Zapopan, Jalisco. The match, which kicked off at 8:00 PM local time, ended without a single goal — a result that left fans stunned, analysts scratching their heads, and social media flooded with memes about both teams "chiveándose" — a playful Mexican slang implying they chickened out. But behind the silence on the scoreboard was a match packed with near-misses, tactical chess, and the weight of history.
Missed Chances, High Stakes
Chivas, who finished sixth in the regular season with 29 points, came into the match riding a wave of momentum — seven wins in their last eight games. Their starting XI, led by goalkeeper José Rangel and forwards Roberto Alvarado and Armando González, looked sharp early. In the third minute, a swift counterattack nearly put them ahead, but the finish was just wide. By the 15th minute, Cruz Azul’s José Sebastián Sosa Sepúlveda had a clear chance denied by Carlos Felipe Rodríguez Castillo, the visiting goalkeeper who stood tall when it mattered most.
The pattern continued: Chivas created in the 22nd, 29th, and 61st minutes. In the 61st, Richard Ledezma Rivero had a one-on-one opportunity that he somehow blazed over the bar. Cruz Azul, third in the standings with 35 points, grew more cautious as the game wore on. Their only real threat came in the 86th minute when a header from Marquez crashed off the crossbar. In stoppage time, Chivas’ last-ditch effort rattled the post — a cruel twist for the home crowd.
Yellow cards flew: Cruz Azul received three (25’, 69’, 79’), Chivas two (first half, 66’). The discipline was tight, the tension thicker. Neither team wanted to make a mistake — and neither did.
A Rivalry With Ghosts
This was the seventh time since 1970 that these two giants have met in the Liga MX quarterfinals. And for Cruz Azul, the ghosts of the past loomed large. In the Apertura 2006 quarterfinals, Chivas eliminated them 4-2 on aggregate, winning at Estadio Jalisco and holding firm at Estadio Azul. That result still echoes in the locker rooms. "La Máquina carries the burden of history," said SoyFutbol. "Every time they face Chivas in the playoffs, the same question hangs: Can we finally break through?""
Chivas, meanwhile, thrived on the underdog energy. "They finished the Apertura strongest," noted Chivas de Corazón. "That’s not luck — that’s character." Their form since October had been the most consistent in the league, a turnaround from a sluggish start. Cruz Azul, though more polished overall, had been inconsistent in crunch time — a fact that didn’t escape the analysts.
The Second Leg: A Math Problem in Cleats
The second leg, to be played at Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes in Mexico City, will be a tactical puzzle. Because Cruz Azul finished higher in the regular season, they hold the advantage: a 0-0 or 1-1 draw in the return leg sends them through. Chivas? They need a win — or at least a 2-1 or 3-2 draw. No extra time. No penalties. The tiebreaker is purely based on regular season points.
That rule, part of Liga MX’s playoff structure since 2018, was designed to reward consistency. But in practice, it creates surreal scenarios — like a team needing to score three goals to survive, while their opponent can afford to park the bus.
Behind the Scenes: Rights, Reactions, and Memes
Amazon Prime Video held exclusive broadcast rights in Mexico, blocking Televisa and TV Azteca from airing the match for free — a move that sparked outrage among fans without premium subscriptions. "It’s not just about money," said one Twitter user. "It’s about our clubs. We should be able to watch this without paying." Meanwhile, social media exploded. Memes of both teams "sleeping through the match" went viral. One showed a photo of a cat napping on a couch with the caption: "Cruz Azul vs Chivas: 90 minutes of waiting for the alarm to go off." Another featured a clock with no hands: "Time doesn’t matter when goals don’t exist." Even El Financiero couldn’t resist: "Ambos equipos se chivearon," the headline read — a linguistic twist that turned Chivas’ nickname into a verb for cowardice. The irony? Chivas fans laughed. They’ve heard it before.
What Comes Next?
The second leg is scheduled for early December, though the exact date and time remain unconfirmed. Expect a packed Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, with Cruz Azul’s fans demanding redemption. Chivas will rely on home-field momentum from the first leg — even if it was goalless — and their recent surge in confidence.
For the winner, a semifinal against either Tigres UANL or Club Tijuana awaits. For the loser? A long winter of "what ifs."
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Cruz Azul have an advantage if the aggregate is tied?
Liga MX’s playoff rules grant the higher-seeded team (based on regular season points) the advantage in case of a tie on aggregate. Cruz Azul finished third with 35 points, while Chivas was sixth with 29. So even if the two-leg total is level, Cruz Azul advances without extra time or penalties — a system meant to reward consistency over the 17-game season.
Has Chivas ever beaten Cruz Azul in the playoffs before?
Yes. In the Apertura 2006 quarterfinals, Chivas eliminated Cruz Azul 4-2 on aggregate, winning 3-1 at home and drawing 1-1 in Mexico City. That series is still referenced by Chivas fans as proof they can break Cruz Azul’s playoff curse — and by Cruz Azul fans as a painful reminder they’ve yet to reverse the trend.
What’s the significance of the Estadio Akron hosting the first leg?
Chivas hosted the first leg not because they were higher-ranked than Cruz Azul — they weren’t — but because they faced a lower-seeded team in the previous round. Since they advanced directly to the quarterfinals as sixth place, the format gave them home advantage for the first leg. Normally, the higher-seeded team hosts the second leg, which is why Cruz Azul will host the decisive match.
Why did Amazon Prime Video have exclusive rights?
Liga MX signed a landmark streaming deal with Amazon Prime Video in 2024, granting exclusive broadcast rights to all playoff matches in Mexico. Traditional broadcasters like Televisa and TV Azteca were excluded from live coverage, sparking public backlash. The move reflects a broader industry shift toward paid streaming, even for culturally massive events like Chivas-Cruz Azul.
What’s the historical record between Chivas and Cruz Azul in playoffs?
Since the liguilla system began in 1970, the two clubs have met seven times in the quarterfinals. Chivas has won four of those series outright, Cruz Azul two, and one ended in a draw (1995). Chivas has never lost a playoff series to Cruz Azul in the quarterfinals — a statistic that makes this year’s rematch even more charged with meaning.
Can Chivas still advance after a 0-0 draw?
Absolutely. Chivas only needs to win the second leg in Mexico City — even by 1-0 — to advance. A 2-1 or 3-2 win would also work. But if they draw 0-0 or 1-1, Cruz Azul moves on because of their higher regular season points. A 2-0 win by Chivas would be enough to overturn the tie. It’s not impossible — just difficult.
