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Any notions that this is just another glorified preseason match were dismissed when both managers took the stage for their pre-match press conference. When Tigres and Pachuca meet for the annual Liga MX Campeon de Campeones match, it represents the first big test of the season for both sides.
The fact of the matter is this is the very first piece silverware available in the season, and Tigres coach Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti made sure to let everybody know his team is looking to win it. Tigres arrive to this match as the 2015 Liga MX Apertura champions. Needless to say, a year after winning the league title, Tigres have high hopes for the 2016 Apertura, and with high hopes come high expectations. Lifting the Campeon de Campeones trophy would be the perfect way to set the tone for what Tigres hope is another successful season.
Pachuca will be thinking much along the same lines. The Tuzos are the current Liga MX champions, and while they will be without four of their key players for much of the start of the season due to the Olympics, Diego Alonso has been granted permission to use all of his squad for this one and only occasion. In that regard, there is no excuse for Pachuca not to go for it. They remain one of the most talented sides in Liga MX, and lifting the trophy would be the icing on the cake to what were a glorious seven months for the club.
Don't look now but Liga MX is back!
Match date/time: Sunday 9:00pm EST, 6:00pm local
Venue: StubHub Center, Carson, California
TV: Univision (US - Spanish), Univision Deportes Network (US- Spanish),
Streaming: fuboTV (Free trial + monthly subscription)