Tigres is one point away from securing a spot in the Liguilla and tonight they will also seek to secure a top-four finish by facing Necaxa with a victory.
As part of the Feria Nacional San Marcos 2018, the Rayos and the Tigres will play with the aim of winning at 9:00 p.m. on the field of Estadio Victoria.
Necaxa also needs the three points because, with 20 units, they are just one point behind the eighth place on the table, which is occupied by Pachuca. Therefore, Ignacio Ambriz's team will be a tough opponent for the felinos.
Just a week ago, the Hidrocálidos conquered the Copa MX title in front of their fans by defeating Toluca, and this is an important motivation because in the last matchday they won away and entered the fight for qualification.
Two of the best defenses in the league will face each other tonight. Necaxa has conceded only 12 goals and Tigres 13. A close match can be expected, which could be defined by a single goal.
At home, the Hidrorayos are not a very strong team, as they have only won one game, against Monterrey. They have drawn four and lost two, with only seven goals scored and seven goals conceded.
However, Tigres are also not as strong away from the Universitario stadium, as they have only achieved one victory on the road against Veracruz. They have drawn three and lost three, with only three goals scored and five conceded.
To make matters worse, Necaxa is one of the two teams against which André Pierre Gignac has not scored in the Liga MX. He also failed to beat Argentine goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero when they faced each other in the Copa Libertadores final with River Plate.
Ricardo Ferretti will make two modifications to his starting eleven, with the return of the Chilean Eduardo Vargas to the forward line to partner with Gignac. This means Enner Valencia will go to the bench, while Alberto Acosta will take the place of the injured Luis "Chaka" Rodríguez.
Ignacio Ambriz, on the other hand, received good news at the beginning of the week when the Disciplinary Committee approved Necaxa's complaint regarding the expulsion of Chilean player Luis Gallegos against Lobos, allowing him to play tonight.
Among the most dangerous players for Aguascalientes are Paraguayan forward Carlos González, who has scored six goals in the tournament and is a very elusive attacker who can penetrate between the central defenders. There are also the young Chileans Víctor Dávila and Igor Lichnovsky.
Without a doubt, their main figure is Argentine goalkeeper Marcelo Barovero, who game after game is a key piece in avoiding goals and is often the team's standout player in matches they win or draw.
Today, Tigres have to show their authority and demonstrate that the champion can come into the Liguilla strong. They must also face the last matchday against Rayados in Clásico Regio 116 with a better face, leaving behind the poor performances they have shown away from the "Volcán" stadium.
PROBABLE LINEUPS
NECAXA
1.- Marcelo Barovero
2.- Brayan Beckeles
5.- Igor Lichnovsky
33.- Mario de Luna
17.- Miguel Ponce
10.- Dieter Villalpando
18.- Luis Gallegos
13.- Roberto Alvarado
15.- Víctor Dávila
24.- Fernando González
32.- Carlos González
Manager: Ignacio Ambriz
TIGRES
1.- Nahuel Guzmán
27.- Alberto Acosta
4.- Hugo Ayala
3.- Juninho
6.- Jorge Torres Nilo
5.- Rafael Carioca
29.- Jesús Dueñas
18.- Ismael Sosa
20.- Javier Aquino
9.- Eduardo Vargas
10.- André Pierre Gignac
Manager: Ricardo Ferretti
REFEREE: Fernando Guerrero
DP