Tigres hosted Necaxa at Estadio Universitario, and although they bounced back after falling behind early, they ultimately settled for a 1-1 draw on Matchday 7. The result once again raises some questions about the team coached by the Tigers, who failed to capitalize on their home-field advantage and will now have to quickly shift their mindset, as their next match will be none other than the Clásico Regio.
Necaxa surprises Tigres in the first half
The visiting team started the match with more initiative and was rewarded as early as the 11th minute. Owen González capitalized on a rebound off the crossbar and, practically without thinking, simply had to tap the ball into the back of the net to make it 0-1.
Tigres tried to respond, but Necaxa continued to create danger and came close to extending its lead. In the 21st minute came one of the most crucial moments of the match. The referee called a handball by Rodrigo Aguirre inside the box, allowing Necaxa to score from the penalty spot.
Julián Carranza stepped up and took the kick from the penalty spot. However, Nahuel Guzmán’s experience came through as he made a great save to keep the University team in the game.
Rodrigo Aguirre saves Tigres
The missed penalty kick ended up being even more crucial a few minutes later. Tigres finally managed to respond before halftime. In the 39th minute, Rodrigo Aguirre had the chance to redeem himself—and he didn’t let it slip away. The forward popped up inside the box to connect with a header and send the ball into the back of the net, tying the score at 1-1.
The goal restored some calm to the Tigres fans and allowed Tigres to head into halftime with the score tied after a difficult first half.
A slow second half
In the second half, the match lost much of the intensity it had shown during the first 45 minutes. Both teams struggled to create clear scoring chances in front of the opponent’s goal, and although they sought to break the deadlock, they once again lacked the finishing touch. The score remained unchanged, and Tigres had to settle for salvaging a point at home.
For Tigres, the draw represents another missed opportunity to start climbing the standings and regain confidence in the 2026 Apertura.
Next up for Tigres
With the final whistle, Tigres will have little time to dwell on the result. The team must now focus on one of the most important matches on the schedule. Their next match will be the Clásico Regio, a game that could provide the perfect stage for Tigres to bounce back—or, conversely, to sink deeper into the rough patch they’re currently experiencing.
After the draw against Necaxa, Tigres needs much more than just a point: it needs to regain its rhythm, decisiveness, and confidence before facing its archrival.
