“Toluca has the ideal team to reach the final.”

Karla Torrijos

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, May 17, 2025, p. a11

Superleader Toluca is just one step away from reaching a final in Mexican soccer again, a stage it hasn't reached since the 2022 Apertura tournament. But to achieve that, it must first defeat Tigres this Saturday in the second leg of the 2025 Clausura semifinals, which will be held at the Nemesio Diez Stadium.

After the Red Devils rescued a 1-1 draw in the first leg, a result that would have secured them a place in the title fight due to their better position in the table, the worst mistake they could make would be to become complacent and not go for the win, as they have the ideal team to decisively defeat their powerful rival , considered former player and former scarlet coach Héctor Hugo Eugui.

He pointed out that Toluca, which has not been crowned champion of Mexican soccer since the 2010 Bicentennial Tournament, has had a spectacular season, has excellent players, such as Marcel Ruiz, Paulinho and Alexis Vega, is solid in all its lines, and has everything it needs to advance to the final, it would be a complete mistake, at this point, not to try to finish the series .

On the other hand, the current coach of the Correcaminos club of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas (UAT), of the Expansion League, indicated that the team from the State of Mexico, led by the Argentine Antonio Turco Mohamed, must take full advantage of the advantage that the altitude of the city of Toluca gives them, since it normally affects the clubs from the north, it is a point in their favor that they should not let pass .

No margin for error

He also commented that closing the series at home and with their fans gives Diablos an unbeatable opportunity to reach the final, and to do so, they must work very well, be convinced that they have to go out and win, everyone must put on the jersey and make a collective effort that is above all the Tigres team .

Meanwhile, Franco Romero, the Scarlet midfielder, stated that his team has no margin for error in this Saturday's match, warning that they will strive for victory at all costs in order to subsequently fight for their eleventh league title.

We're going to play the second leg with the intention of winning it, of taking the lead in the opening minutes, and from there, trying to control the match. The important thing is to advance to the next round and be in the final. For us, there's no tomorrow. We have the ticket in our hands, it's up to us. We're going to give it our all to reach the final ," he said yesterday in a press conference.

For this match, whose actions will be officiated by referee Fernando Hernández, a security device with 966 elements will be implemented, in addition to the security personnel inside the stadium, as well as 85 mobile units and canine and equine pairs, which will protect both the interior of the Nemesio Diez and its surroundings.

Martín Sánchez Treviño

Correspondent

La Jornada Newspaper, Saturday, May 17, 2025, p. a11

In Ciudad Victoria, Tamps., Eduardo Alfonso N was sentenced to 260 years in prison by a trial court for the crime of aggravated kidnapping against the relatives of soccer player Rodolfo Pizarro, which occurred on January 26, 2024. The defendant must pay 3 million 80 thousand pesos in damages and a fine of 42 thousand days of minimum wage. Eduardo Alfonso N murdered and kidnapped Pizarro's aunt; however, the player's mother and uncle were also in danger in that act.