Tigres vs Cruz Azul

Lore & Background

Tigres was founded on 7 March 1960 as Club Deportivo Universitario de Nuevo León. In 1967, their venue, the Estadio Universitario was built. In the 1973–74 season, José 'Ché' Gómez guided the team to the title and promotion to the Primera División de México, now Liga MX. They defeated the Leones Negros de la Universidad de Guadalajara 3–2. In the 1975–76 season, Tigres won their first domestic cup, the Copa México, against América after winning 3–2 on aggregate. Under Uruguayan coach Carlos Miloc and players such as Tomás Boy and Gerónimo Barbadillo, for the 1977–78 season Tigres won their first league championship, defeating UNAM 3–1 on aggregate in the finals. Tigres made their best season ever with 48 points in the 1978–79, but did not reach the finals. In the 1979–80 season, Tigres lost the finals against Cruz Azul 4–3 on aggregate. In the 1981–82 season, they won their second league championship against Atlante on penalties. In 1988, after fourteen years in the team, Tomás Boy retired. In 1990, Tigres lost the finals of the 1989–90 Copa Mexico against Puebla. In 1996, Tigres won their second domestic cup defeating Atlas 2–1 but were relegated to Primera División A due to negative results of past seasons. After two consecutive Primera División A championships, the team returned to the Primera División in 1997. Under Brazilian coach Ricardo Ferretti, Tigres finished as runners-up in the Invierno 2001 season, losing to Pachuca. In the Clausura 2003, Tigres lost in the semi-finals against arch-rival Monterrey. In the Apertura 2003, under Argentine coach Nery Pumpido, Tigres again lost the finals to Pachuca. In the Clausura 2005, Tigres went to postseason but lost in the quarter-finals to Morelia. In the Apertura 2005, Tigres defeated América in the quarter-finals in what was called the 'Aztecazo' but lost in the semi-finals to Monterrey.

Reader's Guide

Tigres UANL plays at Estadio Universitario, built in 1967. The club's traditional colors are gold and blue. Since 1996 the club has been managed by Sinergia Deportiva, a sports-management company associated with Cemex. The club is one of the two major professional clubs in the state of Nuevo León, alongside their rivals C.F. Monterrey; their rivalry is known as the Clásico Regiomontano.

Did You Know?

• Tigres' first major trophy was the 1975–76 Copa México, defeating Club América 3–2 on aggregate in the final, becoming the first club from Nuevo León to win an official national title.
• Tigres has won eight Liga MX titles, three Copa MX titles, four Campeón de Campeones, two Campeones Cup titles, and one North American SuperLiga.