Tigres UANL vs. Club Leon – Liga MX, Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Tigres UANL hosts Club Leon this Wednesday, December 1, as the 2021 Liga MX Apertura semifinals get underway.

The first leg takes place at Estadio Universitario before the second leg goes down at Estadio Leon on Saturday, December 5. Can either side gain a first-leg advantage?

Join me as I break down the odds and analyze the teams. After that, I will share my prediction for Tigres UANL vs. Club Leon – along with a free betting pick.

The best soccer betting sites view Tigres UANL (2.00) as the favorite to win the first leg. That said, the high price for the home victory suggests that Club Leon (3.40) will compete on Wednesday.

Let’s not forget that fourth-place Tigres and third-place Leon were separated by just a single point in the regular-season standings. In my eyes, that makes the draw (3.30) an excellent option here.

It’s time to take a closer look at the teams.

The Tigers were in danger of missing out on the Apertura semifinals after losing the first leg of their quarterfinal clash with Santos Laguna.

Despite enjoying 64% possession and racking up 18 shots, Miguel Herrera’s men lost 2-1. A late goal from veteran Frenchman Andre-Pierre Gignac kept them in the tie.

They left it late in the second leg, too, with Carlos Salcedo netting the winner on 82 minutes. Raymundo Fulgenacio was sent off shortly after, meaning he will miss Wednesday’s game through suspension.

The San Nicolas club has now won four of its previous six Liga MX matches. During that period, the team has kept three clean sheets.

When you look at the bigger picture, the Tigers have lost just three of their last 17 Liga MX outings. With that in mind, they will be confident of avoiding defeat on Wednesday.

Nicolas Lopez (9 goals, 2 assists) has been the star of the show this season, with Juan Vigon (4 goals, 2 assists) and Luis Quinones (3 goals, 4 assists) playing solid supporting roles.

Just like Tigres, Leon suffered a 2-1 loss in the first leg of their quarterfinal. The Guanajuato outfit took the lead against Club Puebla before conceding two goals.

However, the 2020 Apertura winners flexed their muscles in the second leg. They dominated the entire match and progressed to the semifinals thanks to a brace from Angel Mena.

Mena now has six goals and three assists to his name this term. The Ecuadorian winger appears to be peaking at just the right time, with only three wins standing between Leon and the title.

Believe it or not, Leon endured a six-game winless streak between August and October. Since then, however, the team has rediscovered its best form.

The reigning Apertura champs have won five of their previous eight matches, keeping six clean sheets in the process. In fact, they have only conceded three goals in their last nine Liga MX clashes.

Holan’s men saw off Puebla, Guadalajara, and Pumas on their way to lifting the trophy last year. Can they get the better of Tigres and reach a second Apertura final in two seasons?

I expect Tigres and Leon to dish up a tense and cagey encounter on Wednesday. With the second leg to come, both teams will approach the first leg with caution.

Leon ended the regular season on 29 points, while Tigres picked up 28 points. It is also worth noting that both sides conceded only 14 goals in 17 regular-season matches.

Having taken everything into consideration, the draw feels like the most probable outcome at Estadio Universitario. I can see the teams playing out a low-scoring affair.

With a place in the Apertura final on the line, neither side will want to head into the second leg with a mountain to climb. That’s why I’m confident the first leg will end in a draw.

Oh, and let’s not forget that four of the previous five meetings between Tigres and Leon have ended in a draw. Need I say more?