Ixtlahuacán aiming for a spot in the final against Tlajomulco
Win brings a third consecutive trip to the finals

The decisive weekend has arrived for Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos. After securing a solid 2-0 away victory in the first leg, the team from the lakeshore area has the opportunity to seal their spot in the grand final this Saturday, May 16, when they host Tlajomulco de Zúñiga at La Arena Stadium.

The Ixtlahuacán squad is eager to reach its third consecutive final, but with the firm goal of breaking the losing streak that has haunted them in the final stages. In the 2024 edition, the title slipped away from them against Ameca in a dramatic penalty shootout, while a year earlier, Cihuatlán defeated them by a narrow 2-1 margin.

Although they lead in the aggregate score and have home-field advantage, Ixtlahuacán will need to demonstrate maturity to handle the pressure. A recent precedent works in their favor: in the same tournament’s group stage, they already defeated Tlajomulco at home in a thrilling 3-2 victory.

For its part, Tlajomulco de Zúñiga arrives with a heavy statistic against it: since 2023, it has failed to beat Ixtlahuacán, a team that has become its true Achilles’ heel. To stage a comeback and keep their hopes of reaching the final alive, the visitors must win by a margin of more than one goal.

Ixtlahuacán stands out not only on the field but also in the stands and in management; its fan base is recognized as one of the most devoted, and the municipality has established itself as one of the biggest investors in the sports project in recent seasons.

However, Tlajomulco is not an opponent to be underestimated. Despite their stumbles against Ixtlahuacán, the team from the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG) boasts an enviable record in this edition, racking up 10 wins in their last 13 matches.

There is also a significant historical factor: unlike their opponent, Tlajomulco already knows what it’s like to lift the trophy, having been the inaugural champions of the Copa Jalisco in 2019. Since that title, they have not reached another final—a drought they will seek to end this weekend at La Arena.

Translated and edited by Bruce Bernhart