Cruz Azul is four games away from crowning one of, if not the greatest season in Liga MX history. But first, it must face its biggest rival, América, in the semifinals.
Cruz Azul gets a chance at revenge after it fell to América in last season's final during Martín Anselmi's first campaign in charge. The Argentine manager has completely turned Cruz Azul around. He inherited a team that finished 16th only a year ago. Now, he's on the verge of guiding it to back-to-back finals in his first two seasons at the helm.
After setting a new points record during the regular season, Cruz Azul got punched in the mouth in the quarterfinals. La Máquina fell 0–3 in the first leg against Tijuana. Unlike previous versions of the team, Anselmi's men remained poised and avoided catastrophe, with a dominant 3–0 victory in the second leg, advancing thanks to being the higher seed in the playoffs.
Anselmi faces difficult decisions regarding his lineup in the first game. There aren't any notable injuries to worry about and Jorge Sánchez is back after serving a suspension. The main question will be up front. Anselmi must decide if he plays with two strikers, or if he reverts to the system he implemented for the majority of the regular season.
Here's how Cruz Azul could lineup in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura 2024 semifinals vs. America.
