Salah & Szoboszlai run rings around City in champion display

Culture Axis: New Preds, Messi answers 'Stoke' question & more

The Curious Case of Marcelo

Magical Modric inspires Madrid on Mbappe off-day

KDB looks done! Captain leads City flops in Liverpool loss

Editors' Picks

INEOS to distance Man Utd from past as Ferguson blamed for struggles

Rashford's impact at Villa hailed by Asensio & Tielemans

Young quotes Mourinho as he reacts to overturned penalty decision

‘Not a foul!’ – Officials bemuse bloodied Barca star Yamal

Man City, Barca & football's most dramatic falls from grace

<ul><li>Tigres lost 1-0 against Real Esteli in the first leg</li><li>The Mexican giants were without several regular stars</li><li>Second leg takes place on February 12 at the Estadio Universitario</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Liga MX giants Tigres upset by Nicaraguan side Real Esteli in leg one of CONCACAF Champions Cup series

Liga MX

Tigres

FC Juarez

Nicaraguan side Real Esteli stunned Liga MX giants tigres in leg one of their CONCACAF Champions Cup tie Wednesday evening. Despite being without ten first team players, fans expected Tigres to easily win. However, instead, things went in the opposite direction as the Nicaraguan side dominated the game from the get. They had chance after chance and were only kept at bay thanks to some good defending and goalkeeping.But Real Esteli’s pressure eventually paid off as Francisco Grahl managed to find the net with just seven minutes of normal time left on the clock. And while the Mexican side tried to find an equalizer, luck simply wasn’t on their side despite a few good chances for Nicolas Ibanez and Fernando Ordonez. It meant that Real Esteli pulled off a historic victory as they shocked the footballing world.

WHAT HAPPENED

The Tigres head coach, Veljko Paunovic, walked into the game under pressure after a 1-0 loss to Toluca, despite dropping points just once in their previous four league games. Not only that, he was further subjected to criticism after Real Esteli boss Byron Bonilla was aggrieved at the fact that their opponents on the night would be without key players, who had been rested for the clash. However, following the 1-0 loss, Paunovic was very upset with his squad and hit out against them, admitting that they weren't good enough on the night.Paunovic said, “The result is not unattainable. We lacked the final pass, the realization of many possessions that reached the rival area. We were very thick in the final third, and that can cost you in these games, especially when you have a player lying on the field, who is injured, and the rival takes advantage of the advantageous situation to score the goal, which is the final score."

WHAT VELJKO PAUNOVIC HAD TO SAY

This is not the first time Real Esteli have pulled off an upset at home, as the Nicaraguan side have beaten Club America and Saprissa multiple times in the past. They have a rich history of success on their home ground and when combined with major absences in the Tigres’ team, it saw the Liga MX side struggle to lay a finger on their opponents.So much so, that Paunovic’s side didn’t have a shot on target in the first half, becoming the first Mexican club to do so since March 2024. Furthermore, the loss also extends Tigres' poor away record in the Concacaf Champions Cup to five games without a win, the longest run in the tournament since the current format began in 2008. The Liga MX side’s last away win was in 2023, a 1-0 victory over FC Motagua.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Mexican side face Atlas at home in the league before their Round 1 second leg in the Concacaf Champions Cup against Real Esteli. This game does take place on February 12 at the Estadio Universitario which does give Tigres a slight advantage as they play in front of their own fans. The aggregate winner of the clash will advance to the Round of 16.

WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR TIGRES?

Liga MX giants Tigres upset by Nicaraguan side Real Esteli in leg one of CONCACAF Champions Cup series | Goal.com

The Mexican side were without key stars including star Andre Pierre-Gignac and were stunned by the Nicaraguan minnows

Next Match