Preview and Viewing Guide Cruz Azul vs América: Concacaf Champions Cup 2025 Quarterfinal Second Leg

We’re gearing up for a defining clash in the Concacaf Champions Cup 2025 as Cruz Azul hosts América at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, for the second leg of the quarterfinals. Following a 0-0 draw in the first leg at the Estadio Azteca, this Clásico Joven at 9:30 PM CDT will determine which team advances to face the winner of Tigres UANL vs. LA Galaxy in the semifinals. U.S. viewers can tune in via FOX Sports 2 and FuboTV, while in Mexico, it’s available on Tubi.

For us, this showdown at the "Volcán Azul" is a pivotal moment in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Cruz Azul leverages their home advantage and recent momentum, while América, despite a stumble, banks on their historical edge and the away goals rule to secure progression. We’re offering an in-depth preview, detailing team form, probable lineups, predictions, and broadcast options for this critical Cruz Azul vs América encounter.

Cruz Azul and América Vie for Concacaf Champions Cup Semifinal Berth

We’re assessing Cruz Azul’s preparation for this do-or-die match. Riding high after a 3-2 victory over Pumas UNAM in the Clausura 2025 Jornada 14 on April 5 at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc, Vicente Sánchez’s squad sits third in Liga MX with 28 points (8W-4D-2L). Ángel Sepúlveda (two goals vs. Pumas) and a dynamic midfield featuring Lorenzo Faravelli and Carlos Rodríguez have fueled their resurgence. Their 4-1 aggregate win over Monterrey in the round of 16 bolsters confidence, yet the 0-0 first-leg result and a recent history of struggles against América—including a 2-1 loss in the Apertura 2024 semifinals—heighten the stakes. We expect Kevin Mier’s goalkeeping and home support to be key.

Meanwhile, we’re examining América’s response to adversity. A 1-0 defeat to Pachuca on April 5 in Jornada 14 dropped them to second in Liga MX with 29 points (9W-2D-3L), ending a five-game winning streak. André Jardine’s side, which advanced past Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 on aggregate in the last 16, showed defensive grit in the first leg, but the absence of Henry Martín and other starters has dulled their attack. With Brian Rodríguez and Álvaro Fidalgo as threats, we anticipate América targeting an away goal to exploit the tiebreaker rule, drawing on their 5-1-1 record against Cruz Azul in the last seven competitive meetings.

This Cruz Azul vs América fixture is a tale of momentum versus pedigree. Cruz Azul has lost just once in eight home games this season across all competitions, while América’s 13 Concacaf titles dwarf Cruz Azul’s lone 2014 crown. We foresee a tight contest, with Cruz Azul’s attacking intent clashing against América’s defensive resolve and counterattacking potential.

Cruz Azul vs América: Broadcast Info, Lineups, and Predictions

We’ve compiled the essentials for this Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg on April 8, 2025:

• Venue: Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
• Kickoff Times:
• Mexico (CDT): 9:30 PM
• U.S. Eastern: 11:30 PM EDT
• U.S. Central: 10:30 PM CDT
• U.S. Pacific: 8:30 PM PDT
• Broadcast:
• Mexico: Tubi (free streaming)
• U.S.: FOX Sports 2, FuboTV (free trial, then $79.99/month)

Probable Lineups:

• Cruz Azul: Kevin Mier; Jorge Sánchez, Willer Ditta, Erik Lira, Gonzalo Piovi; Ignacio Rivero, Carlos Rodríguez, Lorenzo Faravelli; Luka Romero, Mateusz Bogusz, Ángel Sepúlveda.
• América: Luis Ángel Malagón; Kevin Álvarez, Israel Reyes, Ramón Juárez, Sebastián Cáceres; Cristian Borja, Erick Sánchez, Álvaro Fidalgo; Alejandro Zendejas, Diego Valdés, Brian Rodríguez.

Prediction: Odds favor Cruz Azul slightly at +137, with a draw at +240 and América at +162. We project over 1.5 goals (-150) as likely, given both teams’ scoring potential, with a 2-1 Cruz Azul win plausible—though an away goal could see América advance via a 1-1 draw (odds reflect +110 for both teams to score).

Cruz Azul vs América Stakes Soar in Concacaf Champions Cup Clásico Joven

As we conclude, we see this April 8, 2025, clash at the Olímpico Universitario as a defining chapter in the Concacaf Champions Cup 2025. Cruz Azul aims to harness their home form and recent victory to oust América, while the Águilas lean on their storied rivalry success to progress. This second leg will crown a semifinalist in dramatic fashion.

Here’s what you need to know about Cruz Azul vs América:

1. First Leg: Ended 0-0 at Estadio Azteca on April 1.
2. Recent Form: Cruz Azul beat Pumas 3-2; América lost 1-0 to Pachuca.
3. Broadcast: Mexico (Tubi); U.S. (FOX Sports 2, FuboTV) at 10:30 PM CDT.
4. Rivalry Edge: América won 5 of last 7; Cruz Azul seeks home upset.
5. Next Step: Winner faces Tigres/LA Galaxy in semifinals April 22-24.

We’ll be tracking this Concacaf Champions Cup showdown closely, as the Clásico Joven decides a semifinal berth on April 8, 2025.