Tigres vs Leon Prediction, Betting Odds & Picks

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• Leon hasn’t been at the top of their game in their latest battles against Tigres
• Tigres will look to find goals off a new and threatening attacking setup
• Defensively, Tigres should also hold onto their impressive form from 2020

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Tigres vs Leon Predictions and Picks

This is the must-watch game of the Liga MX weekend. While Leon will strut in as the current title-holders, Tigres will step up as the early #1 contender for stealing the championship.

It’ll be a close one, and although Tigres usually take a few weeks to find their usual momentum, Leon will be weakened as they head into 2021. They’ll not only be without star midfielder Pedro Aquino — who recently made the move to Club America — but also potentially without a few players due to positive COVID-19 cases within the roster.

As for Tigres, who arguably have the most talented squad in the Concacaf region, they’ve boosted their roster with the winter edition of striker Carlos Gonzalez.

As mentioned, it could be close, but it’ll be Tigres who walk away with a victory.

Pick:

Tigres for the win (+112)

How to Watch Tigres vs Leon

It didn’t take long to get a blockbuster match in the early days of the new Liga MX season. Tigres, the most successful Liga MX team of the last decade, will host the current title-holders, Leon.

Although Leon should have no trouble recreating some of the magic they showcased last season, it remains very difficult to say that they could gain a second consecutive title — let alone defeat Tigres.

As mentioned earlier, Leon can no longer rely on a key member of their XI like Aquino. Looking elsewhere in their roster, there are no guarantees that captain Luis Montes will maintain his brilliant form from 2020 or that Angel Mena or Emmanuel Gigliotti will score consistently. Keep in mind, Leon’s top two goalscorers from the 2020 Apertura went without a goal in their first three games.

On the other end of the pitch, Tigres’ camp appears to be in good spirits as they prepare for 2021. Like Leon, they also clinched some hardware after lifting the 2020 Concacaf Champions League title in December. Now, with the addition of Gonzalez who could work alongside Andre-Pierre Gignac, the Tigres tandem should instantly become the most powerful striker duo in the region.

And there’s even more reason for Tigres to feel optimistic when they consider their latest encounters against Leon…

History Points To Tigres Stifling Leon Once Again

We’ll let the website Bolavip take credit for the statistic. According to writer Juan Manuel Marino, Leon has failed to win their last nine games against Tigres. Leon has three losses and six draws in the matches that date back to 2017.

That said, does the fact that their last three games ended in draws point to a possible chance for Leon? Not exactly.

With Gonzalez in the attack, Tigres’ squad is arguably the best that they’ve had in a very long time, and possibly ever. And when looking at Leon, there are just too many question marks over not only which players will be available this weekend after the COVID-19 outbreak, but also which figure could step in for Aquino in the XI.

The Intimidating Strength Of A Gignac-Gonzalez Tandem For Tigres

Let’s take a second to peek into the mind of Tigres manager Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti. A lover of the 4-4-2, Ferretti prides himself by playing a structured and organized style of play that feels very old school. Tigres dominate possession, the dish passes out to their wings and then lets them connect crosses and passes towards the path of Gignac, their aggressively efficient striker.

By adding Gonzalez to the picture, it’s not tough to see what Ferretti is going to do. In a setup that could almost be too predictable, he’ll throw on Gignac and Gonzalez as two traditional strikers that’ll head in floated crosses from pacey wingers.

And as predictable as that is, it’s almost unfair to think of how lethal it’ll be. Gignac, who is already the top striker in the league, will now have help from a fellow forward who scored 34 goals for Pumas since mid-2018.

Both powerful and with an ability to produce unstoppable headers, expect Liga MX fans to get a preview this weekend of what could quickly become the best attacking duo in the league.

Tigres’ Defense Should Continue To Thrive As Well

Despite the fact that it’s easy to wax lyrical about what Tigres can do in the final third with their attack, let’s also remember the solidity of their backline.

Defensively, they put up some of the best numbers last season in the league, racking up a 20.69 xGA (expected goals against) tally. Only Club Tijuana and Pachuca maintained a lower number.

And the good news for 2021 is that they’ve held onto their most important defenders. Other than the exits of Jorge Torres Nilo and Eduardo Tercero — who were both backups — Tigres’ rigid and sturdy backline will remain the same in the new season.