The first-ever Leagues Cup has seen a continuation of a trend, Liga MX teams beating MLS teams in cross-league competitions. We’ve seen that carried out to a T in the CONCACAF Champions League, and that was what we saw in the first round of this competition. A Liga MX team was pitted against an MLS team in the first round of this tournament, and the Mexican side won three of the four matches. That has led to two Liga MX rivals being pitted together in the semifinals, and Club America will take on Tigres UANL.
Don't miss this Leagues Cup semifinal from BBVA Stadium in Houston, Texas. at 8:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 20, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on ESPN2.
Leagues Cup Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Check Back Later
Odds Analysis
This is the first-ever Leagues Cup. It was announced on May 29 of this year, and critics have panned it since there were no real qualifications to determine which teams played in this competition. None of the four MLS teams involved in this tournament finished better than sixth in their conference last season. Still, this remains a chance for teams to add another trophy to their mantle, and both Tigres UANL and Club America will look to take the next step on Tuesday.
These teams are very familiar with one another, and they have already met with a trophy on the line this season. Last month, these two clubs squared off in the Campeon de Campeones with Club America emerging as the victory. They played to a 0-0 draw for 90 minutes, but America were able to earn a victory in penalties.
Both sides are off to a good start in the Apertura. Club America are 3-1-0 and tied with Queretaro for the second spot in the table. America defeated Monterrey 4-2 in the opener, and they held Leon to a scoreless draw in their second match before defeating Tijuana 3-1 and Toluca 1-0 over the last two weeks. They were in the United States on Wednesday to fight for the Campeones Cup, but they fell 3-2 to Atlanta United.
Tigres knocked off Monarcas 4-2 in their first match, but a Carlos Salcedo red card in the 23rd minute led to a 2-0 loss to Guadalajara in their second match. They rebounded from that defeat with a 1-0 win over UNAM Pumas and then knocked off Necaxa 3-1 last weekend. The club defeated Real Salt Lake 1-0 in the quarterfinals to qualify for the semifinal.
Key Absences
There is only one injury to report for Club America, but it’s a big one. Star forward Nicolas Castillo suffered a broken fibula two weeks ago, and it will take some time for him to recover. He had been one of the top players in the Clausura last season, so his loss is a blow to the club.
Julian Quiñones suffered a torn ACL last month, and he will be out for the rest of the Apertura and into the Clausura. Tigres are also unlikely to have both Francisco Meza and Javier Aquino as well.
Player to Watch
Andre-Pierre Gignac is now the all-time leading scorer in Tigres history, and he is closing in on 100 goals during his time in Mexico. Gignac came to the club in 2015, and since that moment, he has been one of the stars of the league. He has 90 goals in 152 appearances, and he has yet to slow down at the age of 33.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Tigres might have lost the last meeting between these teams, but I think they’ll have the upper hand this time around. They have been the best team of the decade in Mexico, so I’ll put my faith in them.
Leagues Cup Odds: Tigres UANL 2, Club America 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
