Cruz Azul - Pumas opens Clausura 2025 final at Estadio de la Ciudad de los Deportes

Cruz Azul - Pumas opened the Clausura 2025 Liga MX final at Estadio de la Ciudad de los Deportes, putting third place against first place in the first leg of the title series. Cruz Azul arrived after eliminating Atlas and Chivas, while Pumas reached the final after getting past América and Pachuca.

Lira and Martínez Available

Erik Lira and Memote Martínez were available with their teams for the final, and Javier Aguirre said both had permission to be with their respective clubs. He added: "Memo y Lira, me parece justo ya que compitieron con ellos, me parece justo que puedan ir a saludar a sus compañeros, me parece hasta sano, son importantes para los equipos, no le veo mal que puedan ir a celebrar o estar hombro con hombro con los derrotados, no le veo mayor problema".

Pumas Advanced on Table Position

Pumas reached the final as the regular-season leader and advanced over América and Pachuca on table position after both aggregate scores finished tied. Cruz Azul, which closed the regular season in third place, had beaten Atlas in the quarterfinals and Chivas in the semifinals before getting to this stage.

Five Recent Meetings

The matchup also carried recent history into the first leg: in the last five meetings between Cruz Azul and Pumas, Cruz Azul won three times and there were two draws. Ismael López was designated as the referee for the match, adding one more official detail to a final that already carried two different routes and one title on the line.