Los Angeles Football Club, who won the 2022 MLS CUP, will face the 2023 Campeón de Campeones Tigres this Wednesday, September 27. Two of North America’s highest-profile teams will meet at the BMO Stadium.
This game is a perfect opportunity for LAFC to win a trophy while the MLS hopes to make it four straight Campeones Cup titles. So far, the MLS dominates this competition. Atlanta United (2019), New York City FC (2021), and Columbus Crew (2022) won each of the last three Campeones Cups. Meanwhile, Tigres is the only Mexican club to win the Cup.
Los Angeles Football Club
Qualified as: 2022 MLS Cup Winner
The Black and Gold 2023 MLS season has been inconsistent, and by their standards, it’s not good enough. LAFC started the season brilliantly, winning seven games, drawing four, and losing once. Moreover, they reached the CONCACAF Champions League final, losing to Leon 3-1 on aggregate.
After the final, LAFC dropped form winning five, drawing five, and losing eight in the MLS. The Black and Gold got knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup against LA Galaxy 2-0 in the round of 16. In Addition, LAFC got eliminated by Monterrey at the Rose Bowl in the Leagues Cup after being 2-0 up, losing 3-2.
LAFC overall are in 8th place in the MLS standing table and 2nd in the Western Conference Table. With four games remaining, LAFC will likely qualify in the Round One.
Tigres
Qualified as: Campeón de Campeones 2023 winner
Conversely, Tigres have been exceptional. This year is their chance to win their second Campeones Cup. Tigres won the Campeones Cup five years ago, beating Toronto Football Club 3-1 at BMO Field.
On May 28th, Los Auriazules won the 2023 Clausura against Chivas del Guadalajara 3-2 in extra time after being 2-0 down. Therefore, they qualified for the Campeón de Campeones, defeating Pachuca, the Apertura 2022 champions 2-1.
In the Liga MX, Tigres are in 3rd place with 17 points, and they are two points behind league leaders Atletico de San Luis with 19 points.
In the last five years, Tigres have been dominant, winning a total of six trophies. Although Los Auriazules finished runners-up in the 2020 Fifa Club World Cup, they were close to beating the 2020 UEFA Champions League winners Bayern Munich.
Head to Head
LAFC encountered Tigres only once in 2020 when they played the CONCACAF Champions League final, losing 2-1. Diego Rossi gave LAFC the lead, but Tigres fired back with Hugo Ayala and André-Pierre Gignac goals in the last 20 minutes of the second half.
If the Black and Gold win the Campeones Cup, their confidence will rise until the end of the season. Meanwhile, if Tigres wins, it will add another trophy to their collection, boosting their confidence in the 2023 Apertura.
