Chivas and Cruz Azul Stalemate 0-0 in High-Stakes Liga MX Quarterfinal First Leg

When the final whistle blew at Estadio Akron on Thursday night, the scoreboard read 0-0 — but the tension was anything but neutral. Club Deportivo Guadalajara and Club de Fútbol Cruz Azul played out a gripping, goalless draw in the first leg of the Liga BBVA MX Apertura 2025 quarterfinals, leaving fans on edge and the road to the semifinals hanging by a thread. The match, played before a roaring, full-capacity crowd in Zapopan, Jalisco, ended with Chivas holding a slim 52%-48% possession edge, yet Cruz Azul’s four shots on target told a different story: this was a battle of nerves, not just numbers.

First Half Dominance, Second Half Fury

Chivas came out like a team possessed. In the 23rd minute, Armando "Hormiga" González turned on a dime and unleashed a curling shot that Andrés Gudiño — Cruz Azul’s backup keeper — somehow palmed away with a reflex save that looked like it came from a different century. Two minutes later, González missed a golden header from six yards out, and by the 31st minute, Ledezma’s looping volley was smothered by Raúl Rangel, Cruz Azul’s starting goalkeeper, who was in vintage form. The home fans roared with every touch, but the breakthrough never came.

Then came the second half. And everything flipped.

Cruz Azul, who’d been mostly quiet, surged forward. At the 61st minute, Rivero found himself one-on-one with the Chivas defense, broke free, and fired — only to see his shot crash off the post. It was the clearest chance of the night. The Cruz Azul bench erupted. Their coach, Nicolás Larcamón, had spent the regular season building this team into the league’s most dangerous counter-attacking unit — and now, on the road, they were proving it.

Controversy in the Roster

But the biggest talking point wasn’t on the pitch — it was on the bench. Gabriel Milito, Chivas’ head coach, shocked the Guadalajara faithful by leaving two of his top attackers out of the starting XI. Fans took to social media in droves: "Why is Juárez not playing?" "Where’s the firepower?" Milito has been tight-lipped, but insiders say he was managing fatigue after a grueling 17-match stretch. The gamble backfired. Chivas lacked that final incisive pass, that moment of individual brilliance that wins knockout games.

Meanwhile, Larcamón’s side has been the model of consistency. Cruz Azul led Liga MX in scoring chances during the regular season — and they’ve done it without a superstar. Their strength? Discipline. Organization. Patience. They didn’t need to dominate. They just needed to survive.

History on the Line

This wasn’t just another quarterfinal. It was the seventh time since 1970 — when direct elimination playoffs were introduced — that these two giants have met in this round. The rivalry runs deep: red and white against cement gray. The chants echo through the mountains. The history weighs on every tackle.

Chivas has won just one of their last six knockout clashes with Cruz Azul. And now, with the second leg in Mexico City, the pressure has shifted. Chivas must win by any scoreline. A draw? That’s elimination. Cruz Azul? All they need is another 0-0 — or even a 1-1. That’s the brutal math.

What Comes Next

The second leg is set for Sunday, November 30, 2025, at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Ciudad Universitaria, with kickoff at 7:00 PM local time. Cruz Azul will be deafeningly loud. The crowd will be a wall of noise, and the home team will play with the confidence of a side that’s already half in the semis.

Chivas, meanwhile, faces a crisis of confidence. Will Milito bring back his star attackers? Will González find his finishing touch? Or will Cruz Azul’s defense, which conceded just 19 goals in 17 regular-season matches, hold firm once more?

One thing’s certain: this isn’t over. Not even close.

Key Moments Recap

• 23rd minute: Armando "Hormiga" González’s shot saved by Andrés Gudiño
• 29th minute: González misses a clear header from six yards
• 31st minute: Ledezma’s volley stopped by Raúl Rangel
• 61st minute: Rivero hits the post for Cruz Azul
• 66th minute: Chivas’ first yellow card (José Paradela)
• 69th minute: Cruz Azul’s first yellow card (Jesús Gallardo)

The match was broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video, with commentators noting: "Gracias por estar con nosotros a través de Amazon Prime, la casa del Guadalajara."