Match Preview: Chivas vs Toluca, Liga MX Clausura Quarter-Final

Chivas and Toluca will get this season's playoffs underway on Wednesday, 8th May at 19:05 CST.

Chivas Guadalajara

The second most decorated club in Mexico, behind Club América, Chivas has won the Liga MX title 12 titles. Their most recent success came during the 2017 Clausura campaign, a run that even saw them beat Toluca on their way to the title in the semi-final. Beating Toluca on penalties, Chivas won the final against Tigres after a second-leg 2-1 win. Goalscorers on that day were Alan Pulido and José Juan Vázquez.

In the last seven years, Chivas has had to watch on as the likes of Tigres, Club América, Cruz Azul, Pachuca, Santos Laguna, Monterrey, León, and Atlas have all had their hands on Mexico's most coveted trophy.

Despite their seven-year absence without a Liga MX title, their successes are made more impressive by the fact that they only field Mexican players. Chivas has become synonymous with this ethos, giving debuts to the likes of Carlos Salcido, Carlos Vela, and former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Javier “Chicharito” Hernández who recently made his return to the club at the age of 35. His return sparked excitement across the city, as the club itself could not hide its emotions in their announcement piece on the website.

Their route to success is heightened by a Forbes report in 2020 which estimated that the club is the most valuable in the country, ranking sixth in the Americas with a net worth of approx. $311.5M. 

Focussing on the 2024 season, Chivas ended the Apertura in 5th, one spot above their Clausura finish. However, they will be hoping for better this time around as their run in the playoffs quickly ended. After a 1-0 win against Pumas UNAM in the first leg, they were humiliated in the capital as Pumas ran riot with a 3-0 victory to advance to the semi-final. The club enters the Clausura playoffs as the sixth best-performing side, with a record of nine wins, four draws and four defeats.

Toluca

This season's surprise team, Toluca finished the Clausura run as the third-best side, only behind Club América and Cruz Azul. In the history of Mexican football, Los Diablos Rojos are also the third most successful team. Chasing Club América and Chivas, Toluca has lifted the Liga MX title ten times.

Their last run to silverware came 14 years ago, during the 2010 campaign. Passing Monterrey and Pachuca on the way to the final, Toluca faced Santos Laguna. The first leg ended in a 2-2 tie before a goalless second leg. The final was eventually won on penalties for their tenth title to be lifted.

Since then, Toluca has faced heartache after heartache. Finishing as the runners-up on three occasions. The first of those came to Tijuana in 2012 before following the same fate against Santos Laguna and Pachuca in 2018 and 2022.

This season, they are boasting a record of nine wins, like Chivas, but with five draws and three defeats, Toluca finished a point above the quarter-final playoff rivals.

In their run to this point, Chilean midfielder Jean Meneses has played a crucial role. The 31-year-old contributed with six goals and five assists, playing every game for Toluca during the Clausura. Striker Alexis Vega also netted six times but in 13 games.

The Clausura season has been a much improved effort from Toluca who failed to even reach the Apertura playoffs. Missing out by a point, Toluca finished 12th position after recording five wins from 17 matches.

Head to Head Record

The two games so far this season have proven to be tight encounters. The first ended in a 1-1 stalemate. Two goals in seven minutes just after the hour mark as Edgar López gave Toluca the lead before Ricardo Marin levelled the scoreline. The return clash in Guadalajara saw Chivas edge the win. Despite taking the lead in the 2' minute through Fernando Beltrán, Toluca came back twice before Chivas sealed the three points in the 81' minute through Marin, who would score in both fixtures this season with Toluca.

The last five meetings have followed a similar pattern, with three draws being recorded and a win for Toluca back in January 2023 during the Clausura regular season.

Team News

Both teams will have almost an entire squad to choose from. Chivas will be without Raúl Martínez who picked up a knee injury in April and is set to be out of action until November. As for Toluca. Claudio Beeza and Valber Huerta are doubts for the game but could feature with fitness tests set to take place before kick-off.