Chivas have strong reasons to believe a comeback is possible | OneFootball

This Saturday, Chivas are playing for much more than just a match: they are playing for a place in the Clausura 2026 Semifinals. After falling 3-1 in the first leg against Tigres, the scenario is clear. The Rebaño need a two-goal win at home to level the aggregate score and advance, thanks to their higher position in the standings, where they finished second, above their opponent, who placed seventh.

If there is one argument that fuels hope, it is what this team has built on the pitch at Estadio AKRON. Since Gabriel Milito’s arrival, Chivas have become a team that understands the game through possession. At home, that identity has become a constant: during their current 13-match unbeaten run, the team averages 59% possession, reflecting an approach that not only seeks to control the ball, but also to use it with purpose. That control has been key in building results.

The numbers are compelling and back up the narrative: Guadalajara have not lost at home since September 20, 2025. They are on a 13-match unbeaten streak in Liga MX at home, with 10 wins and 3 draws. During that span, the team has scored 33 goals and conceded just 7, figures that highlight a strong balance between attack and defense.

But there’s more. In 10 of those 13 matches, Guadalajara scored two or more goals, and in 8 of them they won by a margin of two goals or more—exactly what they need now to stay alive in the playoffs. In addition, they kept a clean sheet in 8 matches, another sign of the solidity they have built at their home ground.

In other words, the challenge is not unfamiliar. It is not an unknown feat. It is something this team has done before, and repeatedly. Of course, the playoff stage always demands something extra. And that’s where the other factor that makes AKRON a special venue comes in: its people. The connection between the team and its fans has been a key part of this strength. The push from the stands, the pressure on the opponent, and the energy flowing onto the pitch have been trademarks in each of these matches.

Saturday will be no different. It will be a night to believe, but also to execute what has been built under Gabriel Milito. Because if this Guadalajara side has shown anything, it’s that when they take control of the ball, impose their rhythm, and play at home, they have the tools to compete with anyone.