Toronto vs Tigres UANL
Competition: CONCACAF Champions League
Date: 8 March 2018
Kick-off: 02:00 CET
“Under 2.5 goals” was at 1.71 when Toronto hosted Colorado Rapids last week, it was one of my two tips expecting the game to have hardly any goals, but truth is, I thought Toronto would score once and win the game. They didn’t, it ended in a goalless draw, which was good enough for Toronto, as they had beaten Colorado Rapids 2-0 in Denver in the first leg. Last weekend they hosted Columbus Crew, it was the first game of the MLS season, and interestingly, they lost 2-0, conceding in the last minute of the first half, and the first minute of the second one. Giovinco, Altidore, Bradley, van der Wiel, all were present, but still, Toronto got outsmarted, surprised. Giovinco said something interesting the other day, “it’s time to stop thinking about last season”. Toronto won the MLS title a few months ago, and it feels as if their players are a bit… stuck to the recent past, lacking focus on the new season that has already started. They did beat Colorado Rapids 2-0 in Denver, but it was mostly individual brilliance that gave them that win, not exactly team work.
Having seen how the first leg had gone, Tigres UANL’s 2-2 draw at Herediano, my main tip last week when they hosted them in the return leg was “Tigres and over 2.5 combined goals”, at 2.10. They won 3-1, with all four goals coming in the second half, and the last three after the 78th minute(!). Tigres are in trouble regarding their right-back position. Luis Rodríguez was already injured and unavailable for the first leg against Toronto. On Sunday, they beat Veracruz 2-0 away from home, but lost Iván Estrada as well, in the 74th minute. He got injured and had to be substituted. Israel Jiménez is the only right-back left at Tigres, and this is his chance. Tigres lost their first 2018 match at Puebla, but ever since then, they have just one defeat in 11 matches, having won four of their last five. Even the 2-2 draw at Herediano was practically a win, as it gave them the advantage thanks to those away goals.
Previous five matches:
Toronto vs Columbus Crew 0-2
Toronto vs Colorado Rapids 0-0
Colorado Rapids vs Toronto 0-2
Toronto vs Seattle Sounders 2-0
Toronto vs Columbus Crew 1-0
Veracruz vs Tigres UANL 0-2
Tigres UANL vs Herediano 3-1
Tigres UANL vs Morelia 2-1
Herediano vs Tigres UANL 2-2
Tigres UANL vs Atlas 2-0
Toronto’s next game is the return leg at Tigres next week. Tigres are hosting Tijuana on Saturday (Mexico championship).
Toronto vs Tigres UANL: Head to head Stats
Toronto have never faced Tigres before.
Toronto vs Tigres UANL: Prediction
Toronto are considered favourites to beat Tigres. I’m playing along, only because of the weather conditions (cold, around 0 Celsius, possibly snowing).
Toronto vs Tigres UANL: Betting Tips
Toronto’s win pays 2.45 and is my only tip. I repeat, it’s mostly the weather conditions that push me to back Toronto to win, I do not consider them a better team that Tigres, and I don’t expect them to “survive” in the return leg.
More CONCACAF Champions League betting tips and match previews:
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