As Toronto FC prepares to face Tigres UANL in the inaugural Campeones Cup on Wednesday night (8:15 pm ET | Univision, ESPN2, TSN, TVAS), let's familiarize ourselves with their opponents a little better. Here are 10 things to know about Tigres UANL:
Led by a legend
Ferretti has led Tigres through the most successful stretch in club history | REUTERS
Tuca Ferretti is Tigres' manager, currently in his third stint with the team. He first managed them from 2000-03 then Jan. 2006-June 2006 and has been in the role since July 2010 now. In his third term he has overseen Tigres' most successful period in their history. He recently was the interim coach for Mexico during their September friendlies, as the federation continues their search for a coach.
Championship pedigree
Tigres have won Liga MX six times in their history, including the last three Apertura seasons, as well as three Copa MX triumphs and three Campeon de Campeones titles. They've twice been runners-up in the Concacaf Champions League as well as runners-up in the Copa Libertadores in 2015.
Dominant Frenchman
Andre-Pierre Gignac leads the line for Tigres, one of the most dominant players in the Western Hemispere over the last few years. In his first three seasons with the club, Gignac scored 79 goals across all competitions. This year, Gignac already has six goals in seven games and is now the club's all-time leading scorer. The striker represented France at the 2010 World Cup and moved to Mexico in 2015 after spending his entire career in France.
Trusty sidekick
Eduardo Vargascreates a partnership with Gignac that's not too dissimilar from Toronto's Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco. Vargas represented Chile at the 2014 World Cup and has scored 36 goals in his first two seasons with Tigres. He's off to another fast start in his third season with six goals in 10 games across all competitions.
Continuity
Of the 11 starters in that Copa Libertadores final, eight still remain with the team. Gignac and Co. defeated Bolivian side Universitario, Ecuadorian club Emerec and Brazilian side Internacional before losing to Argentinian powerhouse River Plate in the final.
Rematch
Tigres lost to Toronto in the 2018 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals on away goals after drawing 4-4 over two legs. Gignac and Vargas each scored twice over two legs while Altidore, Giovinco, Jonathan Osorio scored for Toronto (their other goal was an own goal.)
Familiar names
Tab Ramos, Jonathan Bornstein, Jose Francisco "Gringo" Torres and Herculez Gomezare some of the Americans to have played for Tigres over the years.
Others to watch
Mexican international Hugo Ayala is the centerpiece of Ferretti's backline, while Argentinian international Nahuel Guzman features in goal. Center midfielder Jesus Dueñas joined Ayala at the 2018 World Cup with El Tri, but is not a surefire starter with the likes of Guido Pizarro (who returned to Mexico after a year with Sevilla) and Rafael Carioca also featuring in the center of the field.
Recent results
Tigres tied Pachuca 1-1 last weekend, as attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan scored their lone goal. They currently sit in 7th place as they chase their fourth straight Apertura title.
Show your colors
Their primary colors are yellow and blue, and these are their jerseys.
