Chivas and Cruz Azul Stalemate 0-0 in Liga MX Quarterfinal First Leg at Estadio AKRON

It was a night of near misses and nervous energy at Estadio AKRON in Zapopan, where Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Cruz Azul played out a tense 0-0 draw in the first leg of the 2025-26 Liga BBVA MX Apertura quarterfinals on November 26, 2025. The result, under the watchful eye of referee Guillermo Pacheco Larios, leaves the tie delicately balanced — and the pressure squarely on Cruz Azul to break the deadlock in the second leg. For Chivas, it was a moral victory: they dominated possession, pressed relentlessly, and carved out chances that would have killed most teams. But the ghosts of past failures — and the gloves of Cruz Azul’s keeper — refused to let them score.

Control Without Reward

Chivas came out like a team with something to prove. Their midfield trio of Richard Ledezma, Omar Govea, and Bryan González linked play with crisp, short passes, suffocating Cruz Azul’s build-up from the first whistle. According to Chivasdecorazon.com.mx, the Rebaño spent over 65% of the match in the opposition’s half, forcing errors and recovering possession with urgency. Yet for all their control, they couldn’t find the final touch. The defining moment came in the 23rd minute: Armando González, the league’s top scorer with 12 goals this season, pounced on a rebound, feinted past two defenders, and fired low toward the near post. The ball screamed toward the net — until Kevin Mier, Cruz Azul’s goalkeeper, stretched and tipped it onto the post. The crowd gasped. The moment felt like destiny denied.

Then, at 31’, Ledezma unleashed a thunderous volley from the edge of the box. The ball curved like a comet. It was heading for the top corner. Mier, again, reacted like a man possessed, diving full-stretch to palm it away. Two world-class saves. Two opportunities lost. And still, Chivas kept coming. The pressure mounted. Cruz Azul, by contrast, looked brittle. Their defense, usually one of the league’s tightest (19 goals conceded this season), looked rattled. But Mier was their shield. And when the game stretched into the final 15 minutes, it was clear: Chivas had done everything but score.

The Near Misses That Defined the Night

The 89th minute brought another heart-stopping moment. Cruz Azul’s Gabriel Fernández, unmarked at the far post, rose to meet a cross from Carlos Rodríguez. His header was powerful, placed perfectly — but Raúl Rangel, Chivas’ 26-year-old goalkeeper, got a fingertip on it, diverting the ball into the side netting. The stadium erupted. Then fell silent. The ball had kissed the post, not the net. Two minutes later, Chivas had their last chance. Subbed-on Miguel Gómez met a low cross from Daniel Aguirre at the back post, rising with everything he had. His header cleared the bar by inches. The final whistle blew. The scoreboard remained blank.

Substitutions played a role. At 26’, Aguirre was pulled after picking up a yellow card — a tactical shift that disrupted Chivas’ right flank. At 61’, Armando González was replaced by Santiago Sandoval, the young forward who’d scored just once in 11 appearances. Then, in the 77th minute, both Ledezma and Efraín Álvarez were swapped out for Miguel Gómez and Javier Hernández — a clear signal that Chivas’ manager was going for broke. But the final ball, the killer pass, never came.

History Weighs Heavily

The draw extends a chilling trend: Cruz Azul has now won their last four meetings against Chivas. That’s not just a streak — it’s a psychological barrier. For Chivas fans, the last time their team beat Cruz Azul in league play was in 2022. For Cruz Azul, this result feels like a gift. They entered the match as the third-place team, with 32 goals scored and only 19 conceded — a machine of efficiency. Chivas, sixth in the table, had the better recent form: wins over Monterrey, Pachuca, and Atlas in their last five. But form doesn’t matter when history whispers louder.

The betting odds told the story: +113 for Chivas, +233 for Cruz Azul. The market knew. The fans knew. And now, the players know: the second leg at Estadio Azteca will be a different beast. Cruz Azul won’t need to score twice — just one goal will put them through. Chivas, meanwhile, can advance with a 0-0 or 1-1 draw. But after watching their best chances hit the woodwork, will they believe?

What Comes Next?

The second leg is scheduled for early December, though the exact date remains unconfirmed. The stakes couldn’t be higher. If Cruz Azul advances, they’ll face either Tigres UANL or Club León in the semifinals — a potential blockbuster. For Chivas, elimination would mean missing the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. That’s not just a disappointment — it’s a crisis for a club that once dominated Mexican football.

Defensively, both teams are strong. Chivas’ Erick Gutiérrez, with four yellow cards this season, and Cruz Azul’s Gonzalo Piovi, with five, hint at the physicality to come. Offensively, Armando González’s 12 goals are the only reason Chivas made the quarterfinals. For Cruz Azul, it’s Angel Sepúlveda’s 7 goals and 3 assists that keep the attack ticking. But this match proved: even the best strikers need help. And tonight, neither side delivered it.

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about who advances. It’s about identity. Chivas, the people’s team, the club that still draws 50,000 fans to a sold-out stadium even when they’re struggling. Cruz Azul, the institutional powerhouse, the team that wins by discipline, not drama. The 0-0 draw was a mirror: Chivas showed heart, but not finish. Cruz Azul showed grit, but not fear. In the second leg, one team will have to become something more than they’ve been. The other? They’ll just have to hold on.