Tigers' bet on the Copa Libertadores

For the first time under the leadership of Ricardo "El Tuca" Ferreti, the Tigers bet on the Copa Libertadores. In 2012, the feline team fell against the Union Española de Chile in the previous qualifying rounds. The voices in favor of Ferreti using all the arsenal of his team instead of disregarding such an important tournament multiplied. Finally, the Tigers decided to play the Copa Libertadores without any restraints. The result: being 180 minutes away from the continental title.

Group Stage

In this edition, the Tigers were grouped in Group 6, alongside River Plate, Juan Aurich, and San José. They triumphed over Peruvians and Bolivians at home and away, and tied both matches against the "Millonarios". In fact, it was the Tigers themselves who facilitated the qualification of the two-time Libertadores champion, letting a 2-0 lead slip five minutes before the end in the Universitario Stadium and defeating Juan Aurich in Peru despite fielding a mostly substitute team. The defeat of those from Chiclayo opened the way for River to occupy the second place in the group, adding to the point they earned in Monterrey. The Tigers led the group, undefeated, with 14 points, and were listed as the second best team in the group stage, behind their arch-rival, Boca Juniors.

Knockout Stage

In the round of 16, they defeated a tough Universitario de Sucre, led by Julio César Baldivieso, with a global score of 3-2. The return leg in Monterrey was more complicated than expected: the Bolivians held the lead until the 75th minute of the match. In the quarter-finals, they faced the surprising Ecuadorian team, Emelec. In Manta, they suffered their first defeat in the tournament: a 1-0 loss with a goal from Miller Bolaños, a forward who also scored against Mexico during the Copa America. The return leg in Monterrey was not a walk in the park either: Emelec resisted the 1-1 aggregate score until the 79th minute when José Rivas broke the tie. The first goal had been scored by Rafael Sóbis.

Semi-finals

Already in the semi-finals, the opponent would be of great pedigree: the powerful Internacional, champions in 2006 and 2010. By then, the Monterrey team already had their 'hyper-reinforced' squad: Gignac, Aquino, and Damm. The three were decisive in the Tigers' triumph over the Gauchos. The 2-1 loss at Beira Río was easily overturned with a 3-1 victory at the "Volcán", with goals from Gignac, Arévalo, and an own goal from Geferson. Thus, the Tigers reached their first final of an international tournament, and the third for a Mexican club in the Copa Libertadores. Cruz Azul and Chivas lost theirs. It is now the Tigers' turn.