Cruz Azul lineup against Tigres UANL, Digi Mart USA News: Cruz Azul and Tigres UANL are set to meet at the Estadio Universitario de Nuevo León, and coach Joel Huiqui has made several changes to his lineup for the match.
The moves may be aimed at giving more minutes to young players under the Regla de Menores, the rule requiring clubs to field a minimum number of underage players. Luka Romero and Jorge Rodarte enter the starting eleven in place of Agustín Palavecino and Rodolfo Rotondi, who is now fully recovered from the ailments that affected him in recent weeks.
Willer Ditta will also not start. Huiqui confirmed midweek that the Colombian defender has recovered from the injury that kept him out for several matches, but he is not yet ready to start and could see minutes off the bench if the game develops favorably for La Máquina.
Andrés Gudiño, who was much discussed over the last month, is on the bench for a second consecutive match after starting three straight games. Huiqui has again hinted at who will be the starting goalkeeper in the playoffs, and everything points to the Colombian keeper, Kevin Mier, over the Mérida-born Gudiño.
However, another match remains before the playoffs, and there could be changes in goal.
Toro Fernández is also on the bench. Nicolás Ibáñez appears to have won the battle with Toro Fernández for a place in the starting eleven.
Huiqui again chose the Argentine over the Uruguayan, a pattern repeated in the final stretch of the Apertura 2026 tournament.
Christian Ebere, the third offensive reference, again comes off the bench and confirms his role as a substitute who is used only when the situation calls for it.
Cruz Azul starting lineup: Kevin Mier, Jorge Rodarte, Gonzalo Piovi, Jesús Orozco Chiquete, Omar Campos, Erik Lira, Jeremy Márquez, Andrés Montaño, Luka Romero, José Paradela, Nicolás Ibáñez. Coach: Joel Huiqui.
Tigres UANL starting lineup: Nahuel Guzmán, Vladimir Loroña, Rafael Guerrero, César Araujo, Mauro Lainez, Henrique Simeone, Diego Sánchez, Fernando Gorriarán, Juan Brunetta, Emiliano Gómez, Guillermo Martínez. Coach: Víctor Vucetich.
