Liga MX Gameweek 4, Apertura
Club Tijuana 2 - 1 FT Cruz Azul
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Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
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Kyoto Sanga
2-3
Kashiwa Reysol
⚡ Intensity
98
⚖️ Balance
91
🏆 Stakes
56
🎲 Upset
0
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Futmetrix Verdict
44
FT
Thu, Sep 10
Como
4-1
RB Leipzig
⚡ Intensity
64
⚖️ Balance
26
🏆 Stakes
0
🎲 Upset
0
Como dismantle Leipzig in Champions League stunner.
Futmetrix Verdict
23
FT
Fri, Sep 11
Sevilla
1-0
Valencia
⚡ Intensity
21
⚖️ Balance
28
🏆 Stakes
10
🎲 Upset
0
Late Iglesias strike sinks struggling Valencia.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
44' I. Rivero (G. Mora)
N. Ibanez (L. Romero) 45'+2
HT
46' ↓ P. N. Ortiz Orozco ↑A. Vega
C. Ebere 49'
54' G. Mora (A. Vega)
56' A. Preciado
57' I. Rivero
A. Montes 61'
65' ↓ D. Abreu ↑M. El Ghezouani
↓ C. Rodriguez ↑G. Fernandez 68'
↓ L. Romero ↑A. Montano 68'
J. Marquez 74'
↓ C. Ebere ↑R. Gonzalez 76'
J. Paradela 80'
81' ↓ I. Tona ↑F. Gonzalez
81' ↓ G. Mora ↑A. Zapata
81' ↓ R. Arciga ↑Y. Padilla
↓ A. Montes ↑A. Garcia 86'
↓ J. Marquez ↑J. Suarez 86'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Club Tijuana
Goalkeepers
Antonio Rodríguez 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Rafael Fernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jackson Porozo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alejandro Gómez 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Pablo Ortíz
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
46
Total Mins
46
Entry
Midfielders
Iván Tona
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Ramiro Árciga
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Gilberto Mora 
DRIBBLER
3
Dribbles
3
Dribbles
3
Attempts
100%
Success %
Ignacio Rivero 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Adonis Preciado 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Forwards
Diego Abreu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
BENCH
Jorge Hernández
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jesús Vega 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.4
Rating
Alejandro Magallon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ángel Zapata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Frank Boya
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Aldahir Pérez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Francisco González
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mourad
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
25
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Elias Manoel
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yael Padilla
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cruz Azul
Goalkeepers
Kevin Mier
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jeremy Márquez 
NPC
86
Minutes
86
Minutes
29%
Pass Acc
6.0
Rating
Alán Montes
NPC
86
Minutes
86
Minutes
47%
Pass Acc
6.4
Rating
Jesús Orozco 
MAGNET
85
Activity
85
Activity
74
Passes
11
Duels
Omar Campos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Carlos Rodríguez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
Érik Lira
MAGNET
81
Activity
81
Activity
72
Passes
9
Duels
José Paradela
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luka Romero
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
3
Key Passes
7.7
Rating
Osinachi Ebere
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Forwards
Nicolás Ibáñez
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
Andrés Gudiño 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Jonathan Díaz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
José Suárez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Amaury García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Cristian Jiménez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Andrés Montaño
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rogelio González
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Gabriel Fernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mateo Levy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/18/2026 | Cruz Azul | 1 - 1 | Club Tijuana | Liga MX | Estadio Azteca |
| 09/29/2025 | Club Tijuana | 2 - 0 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Caliente |
| 02/01/2025 | Club Tijuana | 2 - 3 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Caliente |
| 12/01/2024 | Cruz Azul | 3 - 0 | Club Tijuana | Liga MX | Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes |
| 11/28/2024 | Club Tijuana | 3 - 0 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Caliente |
| 07/17/2024 | Cruz Azul | 3 - 0 | Club Tijuana | Liga MX | Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes |
| 01/31/2024 | Cruz Azul | 1 - 0 | Club Tijuana | Liga MX | Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes |
| 07/15/2023 | Club Tijuana | 2 - 1 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Caliente |
| 01/09/2023 | Club Tijuana | 1 - 1 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Caliente |
| 08/18/2022 | Cruz Azul | 1 - 2 | Club Tijuana | Liga MX | Estadio Azteca |
04/18/2026
09/29/2025
02/01/2025
12/01/2024
11/28/2024
07/17/2024
01/31/2024
07/15/2023
01/09/2023
08/18/2022
Club Tijuana Win
Cruz Azul Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +7
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +7
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -4
P: 4 GD: -6
League Standings
P: 6 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 6 GD: +8
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -8
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Club Tijuana
Cruz Azul
Club Tijuana
Cruz Azul
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Caliente Chaos: Tijuana Rattle The Machine
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 61/100. This pulsating encounter shattered expectations as the hosts orchestrated a resilient victory to climb the Apertura table against all statistical odds.
A Feisty Opening
The hosts embraced the underdog tag right from the opening exchanges at the sun-baked Estadio Caliente. As expected, Cruz Azul controlled possession with 58% of the ball, dictating the tempo and trying to pull the defensive shape apart. However, Club Tijuana responded with sheer Intensity, snapping into tackles and refusing to grant their opponents an inch of breathing room. The match quickly devolved into a gritty, physical battle punctuated by set-piece threats, with 11 combined corners keeping both sets of defenders on high alert. Just as the half seemed destined to end in a frustrating stalemate for the hosts, a moment of magic unlocked the away defence. G. Mora threaded a beautiful pass into the path of I. Rivero in the 44th minute, and the clinical finish sparked wild celebrations. The stadium erupted, sensing a crucial psychological advantage.
Ten Minutes of Madness
Football is ultimately a game of incredibly fine margins, and the visitors demonstrated their pedigree by hitting back instantly. Deep into first-half stoppage time, L. Romero carved out a pocket of space and found N. Ibanez, who coolly slotted home to silence the home crowd and ensure a pristine Balance on the scoreboard. That rapid, breathless response set the perfect stage for a spectacular second period. Seeking fresh impetus, the Tijuana manager turned to his bench, introducing A. Vega right after the interval. It proved to be an absolute masterstroke of a substitution. By the 54th minute, the substitute had firmly stamped his authority on the contest. Vega orchestrated a fluid, sweeping attacking move that completely bypassed the midfield, allowing Mora to fire home emphatically and restore the home side's precious, hard-fought advantage.
Holding the Fort
From that decisive moment onwards, Cruz Azul essentially laid siege to the penalty area in a desperate bid to salvage a point. They unleashed a relentless barrage of shots from distance, racking up 13 total attempts to put the hosts under extreme duress. However, the Tijuana rearguard stood resolute, clearing their lines and absorbing the mounting pressure to secure a massive Upset Factor victory. The raw data highlights their defensive grit, managing four crucial saves to keep their slender lead intact until the final whistle. This gritty 2-1 win catapults the hosts up into fifth place, preserving their unbeaten start to the Liga MX campaign. Meanwhile, the visitors are left to lick their wounds down in ninth, ruing a genuine lack of cutting edge in a tense encounter where they completely dominated the ball but ultimately lost the war.
Key Questions
What made G. Mora the Man of the Match?
He delivered a flawless midfield masterclass, providing a crucial assist in the 44th minute before firing home the decisive winning goal early in the second half.
How did substitute G. Mora change the game?
G. Mora actually started the match, but it was substitute A. Vega who decisively changed the game by assisting Mora's match-winning goal shortly after coming on.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Early Title Marker at Estadio Caliente
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 52/100. While the Apertura is young, this top-six clash offers a vital early test of both teams' title ambitions.
The Setup
On August 17, 2026, Estadio Caliente hosts a genuine early-season crunch match. Club Tijuana are flying high in second place. They boast a formidable Form rating after an unbeaten three-game start. Cruz Azul aren't far behind in sixth, shaking off an opening loss to string together back-to-back wins. The Stakes are palpable. A one-point gap means the winner claims early psychological dominance in the title race. However, a modest Stars rating indicates a gritty, tactical affair rather than a festival of individual brilliance. A low Balance score hints that the visitors, despite being away from home, are well-equipped to dictate the tempo.
Key Battle
We are closely watching Jesús Gómez as he attempts to lock down Agustín Palavecino. Palavecino has already hit the ground running for the visitors. Gómez anchors a stubborn home defense that has conceded just once, setting up a classic attacker-versus-defender duel.
Our Prediction
Cruz Azul will edge it 2-1. Tijuana's defense will hold firm initially, but the sustained pressure from the visitors will eventually crack the back line in the second half.