🚂 - 🦅 We meet again

The Clasico Joven once again is key to deciding the Liga MX title PLUS: The Spanish influence in tonight's match

It’s a rivalry. It’s not the most important rivalry in Mexico, not the most combative crosstown rivalry in the country, not the one that historically has seen the most titles decided.

Careful, though. With more meetings like this the Clásico Joven between Club América and Cruz Azul (first leg 9p ET Thursday, second 8p ET Sunday - both on Univision) may get a little spicy.

Stakes always lead to passion. If it matters, you feel it more strongly, the desire to beat the team from across town.

There was a Liga MX title on the line in May when the teams met in the final, the resurgent Cruz Azul against the reigning champion Club América. The penalty that ended up being the winning of this spring’s Clausura is still hotly debated.

Cruz Azul fans feel they were wrongly sent out of the final last season, but this year is their year. Despite a 3-0 first-leg reverse, manager Martin Anselmi once again worked his magic and engineered a turnaround.

There was also the last meeting, a raucous release of the frustrations of the final that saw Cruz Azul steamroll past Las Aguilas in a 4-1 victory that saw Cruz Azul concede first but go into the halftime break with a 2-1 lead, then control the second half and score two more.

América suffered a blowout loss to Toluca during the regular season as well, falling 4-0 at the Estadio Nemesio Diez. Yet, up against the Red Devils in the playoffs, it was América triumphing 4-0 on aggregate, having dominated both legs to win 2-0 in each game.

“We’re in good form. I understand that Cruz Azul also is in good form after the comeback they had the other day,” América midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo said. “It’s important to have the squad together. It’s tough to be consistent in the regular season when we didn’t have much of a preseason with the games we had to play, injuries, players with national teams, it’s tough.

“Here we are. Now we face a tough opponent in the semifinals. We’re in good form, and we’re happy.”

Tempers flared in the previous Liguilla. (Photo by Ismael Rosas/Eyepix Group/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Perhaps the regular season doesn’t matter one iota, those past meetings and anything that happened before in the rivalry just something for old men to complain about and stick in the history books.

“To get to the last day, you have to beat everybody. Obviously when the last four of the tournament comes, you’re going to face the best teams,” Anselmi said. “We’ll evaluate what happened (in the first leg) and think about what to do against América.”

Yet, this one feels much more personal - maybe not for Anselmi but certainly for the fan base, for the players and for everyone around Cruz Azul.

The rivals meet again, a chance at the title is on the line.

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Hostia tío! Rayados v. Atlético San Luis has a Spanish accent

Because of the presence of Andre-Pierre Gignac on the city’s other team, the strongest European influence on soccer in Monterrey has been French for the last decade.

But with Tigres out and Rayados in the semifinals (first leg 10p ET tonight, second 9p ET Saturday - both on TUDN), the match has a distinct Spanish flavor.