Toluca vs FC Juárez: Will Los Bravos rewrite history this weekend? | OneFootball

Toluca and FC Juárez will meet for the second leg of their Liga MX Apertura quarter-final tie this weekend. Only one team can advance, with only one goal separating the two. Who will earn their spot in the final four?

In the first leg, Juárez took a surprise lead through Jesús Murillo within the opening 120 seconds, but a second-half comeback turned the tide as the reigning Mexican champions flexed their muscles to win on the road.

With the sides meeting this weekend at the Estadio Nemesio Diez, all remains up for grabs, but will Toluca continue their run to retain the title, or will Juárez make it to their first-ever semi-final?

Toluca vs FC Juárez: Liga MX Apertura League Form

Toluca returned to the top of the Liga MX Apertura table by the end of the regular season, despite three straight draws. A final day of the season win over Club América made it a first win in four, a run that coincided with the injury to Alexis Vega, who also missed the midweek meeting against Juárez.

Los Bravos fought through the play-in to earn the eighth seed after cruising to a 3-0 victory over Pachuca in the ultimate showdown. Prior to their postseason involvement, Juárez picked up only one win from their final six games to miss out on an automatic playoff position.

Toluca vs FC Juárez: Head-to-Head Record

The record books heavily favour this weekend’s hosts, with Toluca winning all of the last four meetings, including a controlling 4-0 victory when the sides met back in February. On that day, Portuguese striker Paulinho ran the show, scoring a hat-trick and has since made this his fixture, netting 12 goals in those last four meetings with Los Bravos.

Toluca vs FC Juárez: Ones to Watch

Paulinho’s form in this fixture makes him an easy bet to have a say once more. The Portuguese international has been a thorn in Juárez’s side since arriving in the Liga MX in August 2024 and is the current top goalscorer in the league with 13 goals in 15 matches.

Juárez arrive this weekend with a threat of their own in Óscar Estupiñán, who has netted nine goals in 16 games, including five in the season’s final seven matches.

Toluca vs FC Juárez: Team News

Toluca will be hoping to bring Alexis Vega back into the fray this weekend, having missed the last three games with a hamstring injury, whilst Brazilian defender Luan will stay sidelined for the remainder of the season with a groin injury.

Los Bravos remain busier in the physio room as Diego Valoyes is a doubt for the game with a thigh injury, and winger Madson is rushing to come back from a head injury, which stopped him from being involved during the week. Other potential absentees include Guillermo Ruiz and Moises Mosquera, who are both a doubt.

Tomorrow night is a test for Los Rojos Diablos, who aim to put pressure on the rest of the competition, whilst a win for Juárez will send them into the history books, making it the first time the club has ever reached the semi-finals having reached the Liguilla for the first time in their history.