Bruno Mendez of Toluca slides in to challenge América’s Chilean player, Victor Dávila, during the first leg of the Clausura tournament final held in Mexico City on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
The first leg ended in a goalless draw, leading to a highly anticipated rematch on Sunday night, where América and Toluca will compete for the title of the next champion of Mexican football in the Clausura tournament final.
Under the guidance of Brazilian coach André Jardine, América dominated possession in the first game but struggled to create scoring opportunities, resulting in a draw that now requires them to win on the road to secure the championship.
If they achieve this win, América will claim its fourth consecutive title, joining Chivas as the only teams in history to win four times in a row — a feat accomplished by Guadalajara during a different format in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
“This team is working very hard for every conquest; they are very clear on the objective to enter the history books,” Jardine stated. “Our task is to maintain the hunger and ambition as we had in our first title, striving for new achievements and to once again make history for the club.”
In the previous tournament, Jardine led América to its second successive championship, and a win now would place him five titles ahead of Chivas, their longstanding rival.
The team will also welcome back Uruguayan international Brian Rodríguez, who missed the entire playoff due to an injury but was on the bench for the first match as a precaution.
A victory for Jardine would put him among the most decorated coaches in the league’s history, surpassing Enrique Meza and sitting just three titles behind the all-time greats Ignacio Trelles and Ricardo Ferretti.
On the other side, Argentine coach Antonio Mohamed aims to make an impact with Toluca in his first tournament, having already secured titles with Tijuana, América, and Monterrey in 2019. He noted, “It’s a match against the three-time champion, and the series closes at home, but that provides no guarantees. This team knows how to turn matches around, and we will seize the initiative at home.”
Toluca may also benefit from the potential return of Portuguese striker “Paulinho,” a two-time scoring champion in Mexico, who missed the first leg due to injury. While Mohamed mentioned that Paulinho could be included for the second leg, he did not confirm if he would start.
If Toluca secures a victory, it would end a title drought dating back to the 2010 Clausura tournament. Since then, they have reached three additional finals but have not claimed the trophy.
In this final, neither table position nor away goals will serve to break a tie; if the match ends level after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties will be employed to determine the champion.
The decisive match is set for Sunday night at the Nemesio Diez Stadium in Toluca, promising an exciting showdown with both teams motivated to secure victory.
This matchup not only encapsulates the competitive spirit of Mexican football but also the narratives of legacy and redemption, making it a must-watch for fans and adding to the rich history of the tournament.