Apertura Semifinal Preview: Mexico City Derby Awaits... | OneFootball

The Apertura 2024 semifinals are about to commence and four teams are ready to put it all on their line to secure a spot in the grand finale.

Monterrey’s goal-scoring masterclass against Pumas has set up a semifinal clash with the Apertura’s dark horses, San Luis, who continue to impress this season. Meanwhile, Cruz Azul’s dramatic triumph over Tijuana has given them a shot at redemption as they prepare to face reigning bi-campeones Club América, aiming to avenge their Clausura final heartbreak.

Only two teams can advance once more, but what do we know about the teams?

Cruz Azul vs Club América

Mexico City's giants will face off in a mouth-watering clash. Both fixtures will be played at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, where Club América has also been playing its home games this season as the Estadio Azteca remains under construction.

The two sides last met in the Clausura final earlier this year, with América narrowly coming out on top to claim a record-breaking 15th league title. Now, Cruz Azul are determined to turn the tables and avenge that defeat.

Cruz Azul have had an outstanding Apertura season, finishing at the top of the regular-season table with just one loss in 17 matches—a 3-1 defeat to San Luis. Their consistency and form make them strong contenders, and they will be eager to prove the have learned from their past mistakes.

On their way to finishing top, they completed the first step of their revenge mission by defeating América 4-1 as Giorgos Giakoumakis scored twice to seal an important win.

In the first round of the playoffs, La Maquiná looked certain for a shocking early exit after a 3-0 loss to Tijuana in the opening leg, but they recovered back in the capital with a 3-0 victory of their own.

As for América, their 8th-place finish in the regular season underscored a disappointing campaign by their standards. However, they managed to scrape through to the Liguilla thanks to a penalty shootout win against Tijuana, narrowly avoiding a humiliating early exit.

Their next challenge was second-placed Toluca, a team that had handed them a crushing 4-0 defeat in the final game of the regular season. Facing a side widely expected to go deep in the playoffs, América looked destined for an early exit. But when it mattered most, they showed their resilience and quality, securing back-to-back 2-0 victories to pull off a stunning upset and eliminate one of the tournament favorites.

América’s revival has reminded everyone why they remain a powerhouse in Mexican football. While their path to the semifinal has been far from smooth, their ability to perform under pressure makes them a dangerous opponent heading into this showdown with Cruz Azul.

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Monterrey vs Atlético de San Luis

First Leg: Wednesday 4th December, 21:00Second Leg: Saturday 7th December, 20:00

Monterrey and San Luis will meet each in the other semifinal as they both grew in confidence after their quartefinal displays.

Both teams enter the semifinals riding the momentum of impressive victories over higher-seeded opponents. Monterrey made a statement with a stunning 5-0 thrashing of Pumas at the Estadio Universitario, a result that sent shockwaves through the Liguilla. Meanwhile, San Luis ended a six-year drought against Tigres in style, securing a commanding 3-0 win in the first leg to set up their place in the final four.

Los Rayados turned to Martín Demichelis to take charge of the first team, and while his tenure began shakily, he managed to steady the ship toward the end of the regular season. Monterrey won three of their final five games, building momentum that carried into the Liguilla, where they secured back-to-back victories against Pumas in commanding fashion.

However, their October clash with San Luis didn’t go to plan, as Ricardo Chávez scored the only goal to hand Monterrey a rare defeat. That result was part of a broader theme in San Luis’s impressive campaign—they managed to avoid defeat against all the Liguilla-qualified teams, with Tigres being the sole exception.

San Luis’s consistency against top opposition has made them a team to watch this season, while Monterrey’s resurgence under Demichelis adds intrigue to what promises to be a fiercely contested matchup in the semifinals.

The recent history between San Luis and Monterrey adds an extra layer of intrigue to their semifinal clash. In their last six meetings, both sides have won twice, with the other two encounters ending in draws. A clear pattern emerges from these results—neither team has managed to secure a victory while playing away.

In fact, the last four wins in this matchup have all gone to the home side, highlighting the importance of home advantage. With each team holding their ground on familiar turf, this series could come down to who can break the trend and deliver a standout performance on the road.

As they prepare to face off, the stage is set for a fascinating battle where history, form, and strategy will play crucial roles in determining who advances to the final.