Club America vs Tigres : Five things to Expect in the CONCACAF Champions League Final

America vs Cruz Azul Copa MX
Source: Flickr - Paul Brady

This Wednesday, April 27, 2016 (6:45 PM Pacific) Club America will host Tigres UANL at the Estadio Azteca for the grand finale of the CONCACAF Champions League 2015-16 final. In the first leg at the Estadio Universitario in Monterrey, the ‘aguilas’ styled a perfect counter-attacking game which allowed them to win 2-0. For the second leg in Mexico City, Tigres will now be pressured to attack from the first minute and play a perfect game in order to win by 3 goals to become tournament champions.

Next, are the five things to expect in this second-leg CCL final between America and Tigres:

1Tigres Extremely on the Offensive

Ricardo ‘Tuca’ Ferretti will style an offensive system with the purpose to attack from the first minute. Tigres understands that winning at the Azteca stadium will be a difficult mission, and winning by two or more goals will be even more challenging. Tigres needs to win by two goals to push the game into overtime and win by three to become champions.

2Club America on the Counter-Attack

As Tigres plays on offense, expect Ignacio Ambriz to style a counter-attacking Club America. The team from ‘coapa’ was successful last week by playing on the counter-attack in the always difficult Universitario stadium. With a two goal advantage, the ‘aguilas’ will play defensively hoping to score a ‘deadly’ goal on set pieces or on a counter-attack play.

3If the games goes into overtime, Tigres will win the title!

Tigres will have the momentum if they take the game into overtime, and America will have been pushed to play defensively. Expect Tigres to win with overtime goals (maybe by Andre Gignac) as Tuca’s team will have the necessary offensive rythm in case America styles purely counter-attacking tactics.

4No early goals from either side!

There will not be any early goals in the first 30 minutes as America knows how to defend itself and they will have a strict cover on Gignac. While Tigres will dominate, America will play to prevent any goals, and this will cost the ‘auriazulres’ from scoring on their few early opportunities.

You can watch the game on Univision Deportes, or stream online live on FuboTV.

5Tigres will win the match, but America will win the title.

Tigres will dominate the game as they will be pressed to be offensive minded. However, America will style another strong counter-attacking system and the pressure on Gignac will be too much. Finals have been exciting as of late in Mexican soccer, so expect for Tigres to score the 1-0 in the first half, America the 1-1 early in the second, and Tigres the 2-1 late in the game. The match will end in exciting manner, yet the ‘aguilas’ will become back-to-back champions.