- League positions: Tepatitlán finished first in the Clausura 2026 regular season with 26 points, while Mineros finished 6th with 21 points.
- Tepatitlán form: Tepatitlán have three wins, a draw and one loss in their last five competitive games.
- Mineros form: Mineros have been inconsistent, with two wins, a draw and two losses in their last five, but were impressive in their quarter-final victory over Atletico Morelia.
Contrast of styles could lead to a tie
Manager and system
CD Tepatitlán de Morelos finished the 2026 Clausura season as the top side in the Liga de Expansion MX and have looked the most consistent in the playoffs thus far, with Gabriel Pereyra’s pragmatism and tactical awareness creating a squad perfectly suited to the league.
Pereyra has instilled in his team a clear structure, prioritising defensive solidity and quick vertical play. His team are comfortable in a compact system with players pressing in unison, but also carry enough quality to be a threat in the attacking transition.
Key players
Wiliam Guzmán is the top scorer in the team this season, and the forward can be a handful on his day, while Amaury Escoto adds a wealth of experience and an aggressive pressing game up top.
Tepatitlán have no shortage of creative midfielders to supply the front two, with Leonardo Sámano’s ability to find a pass in the most crowded spaces and time his runs to perfection a key reason why they are the most dangerous team in the league. Their system seems to have been perfected throughout the regular season and the playoffs so far, and they will be looking to extend their strong home record in 2026 with another strong performance here.
Mineros are dangerous on the counter and in the box
Luis Ángel Muñoz’s side have been a tougher watch this season, with the head coach’s insistence on a possession-based style of play meaning that they can often be the dominant side in terms of ball control. They rotate positions and use the width of the pitch to create overloads in the opponent’s half and are a constant threat from set pieces, as they showed in their 3-1 victory over Correcaminos.
Muñoz’s calm and composed demeanour has likely been a key factor in Mineros’ successful run in the postseason, especially considering that the coach has been at the helm since late 2025. Mineros have struggled for consistency this campaign, but their ability to keep the ball, a strong defensive backbone, and a reliable goalkeeper has been enough for them to grind out results.
Mauro Pérez is Mineros’ biggest threat in front of goal this campaign, and he is particularly lethal on the break and in the penalty area. He will be looked to for an away goal in this tie, while Pablo Padilla and Luis Razo add more spark to the attack, with the former’s ability to link up with team-mates often resulting in a defensive line being caught out.
A tight contest is expected
The recent history of this fixture suggests that it could end tied, as it has in four of the past ten editions. The last meeting between these teams is fresh in the memory of both sides, however, as Tepatitlán ran out 4-0 victors in March 2026 in a result that could carry over psychologically into this tie.
This looks a lot closer than those odds suggest, and with both teams at near full strength and a place in the final at stake, it is expected to be a tough matchup for both sets of players.
- The home advantage and the fact that the team are the favourites to progress, should Tepatitlán go on to secure a tie, give the home side a real edge here, and that could be enough for them to scrape through to the final.
- Both teams to score is a favoured market at 1.69, however, and both sides are likely to press for the win, leaving them vulnerable at the back.
- Mineros are priced at 2.02 favourites for this match, with Tepatitlán behind them at 3.61, and the draw at 3.3.
