León remains unbeaten and at the top of the Liga MX standings after defeating Tigres 1-0 at Nou Camp, thanks to a major blunder by goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán. The match, held on February 22, 2025, was marked by León's dominance and some dramatic moments, including a disallowed goal for the visitors.
It only took seven minutes for León to take the lead when Colombian forward Stiven Mendoza capitalized on Guzmán’s misjudgment. The sequence began with Jhonder Cádiz opening the play from the left side. Mendoza, initially appearing to cross the ball, fired it straight at Guzmán, who misread the play and left his near post unprotected, allowing the shot to slip between his legs and find the back of the net.
After León’s early goal, the home team controlled much of the first half, showcasing significant attacking prowess. James Rodríguez was particularly influential, creating multiple opportunities and coordinating offensive plays with Cádiz and Mendoza. Just ten minutes after the goal, Cádiz sent another shot wide, and at the twenty-minute mark, Rodríguez took a free kick which was nearly converted by Jaine Barreiro before Guzmán made another save.
Despite their efforts to extend the lead, León began to tire as the match progressed, and by the eighty-minute mark, Tigres was finally able to mount some pressure on the León defense. It was notable, though, how the lack of a traditional striker—due to the injuries of Andrés-Pierre Gignac and Nicolás Ibáñez—impeded Tigres' goal-scoring chances.
The final moments of the match brought tension as Tigres had what seemed to be the equalizer scored by Uriel Antuna, but the goal was rightfully disallowed for offside after verification by VAR. This incident added to the frustration already brewing for the visiting team's fans, who criticized Guzmán's earlier mistake and began to question his position as the starting goalkeeper for the team.
Guzmán’s error has reignited discussions by fans about the need for change within the Tigres lineup, especially concerning the goalkeeper’s performance this season, often referred to as “nahueladas,” implying costly mistakes.
Despite losing the match, Tigres remains competitive, currently sitting fourth in the league with 16 points. León's win strengthens their position at the top of the table with 23 points, five points clear of their closest rival, Necaxa.
Overall, the match served as both a celebration for León's steadfast performance under the guidance of manager Eduardo Berizzo, whose tactics continue to bear fruit, and as a moment of scrutiny for Tigres and their coaching staff led by Veljko Paunović, who now face mounting pressure to rectify their strategies.
With this victory, León seems poised to carry on their strong form as they head toward their next fixture, where they will resume their title contention after the league breaks for other activities.