On February 25, 2025, Tigres UANL experienced a surprising turn of events as they suffered their first home loss under coach Veljko Paunovic, falling 1-0 to FC Juárez at the Estadio Universitario, also known as the 'Volcán'. The defeat marked not only the end of Tigres' remarkable 14-match unbeaten streak at home but also signaled the first-ever victory for FC Juárez against the ferocious felines, making this match particularly historic for the visitors.
The match started rather slow, with both teams failing to create meaningful scoring chances. While Tigres maintained the majority of possession, their struggles to penetrate Juárez's defensive setup became apparent early on. Nahuel Guzmán, Tigres’ goalkeeper, faced scrutiny after an uncharacteristic error allowed Juárez's Guilherme Castilho to break the deadlock. Approaching the 40th minute, Castilho seized on Guzmán's misplay, hammered a shot from outside the area, and the deflection left Guzmán powerless to stop the goal, pushing Juárez ahead by 1-0.
Despite the setback, the hosts mounted several attempts to level the score. Notable among these was Sebastián Córdova's attempt, which sailed wide when he found himself unmarked inside the box. Following shortly, another chance presented itself when Juan Brunetta tried to net the equalizer, only to be thwarted by Juárez goalkeeper Sebastián Jurado, who made an impressive save, keeping the visitors' lead intact.
Paunovic, visibly frustrated after the match, addressed the media, expressing his disappointment with the outcome. "Obviously, it is a bitter night. I think the opponent deserves credit for beating us here," he stated, acknowledging the significance of losing after such resilience at home. He lamented the ending of the impressive streak, noting, "To lose your eight-month unbeaten run at home hurts deeply.”
While his team did generate some attacking pressure, Paunovic emphasized Juárez's early goal provided momentum for the visitors. "Despite being sluggish and facing injuries, we generated attacks, but their goal gave them strength and we struggled to respond effectively," he reflected on how the match's dynamics shifted post-goal.
The return of Tigres' star striker, André-Pierre Gignac, did little to sway the tide of the encounter. After spending four weeks sidelined with injury, Gignac was brought on to spark life back to the Tigres offense alongside Rafael Carioca and Raymundo Fulgencio. The coaching staff hoped the trio would help instill urgency and creativity, yet the opportunities to equalize remained few and far between.
Throughout the match, FC Juárez's defense held firm, thwarting Tigres at every turn, and as time wore on, more opportunities arose for both sides but remained unconverted. The match concluded with Juárez celebrating their historic win, leaving Tigres to reflect on their second consecutive defeat—the first inflicted by León just days prior.
Paunovic's post-match remarks highlighted the challenges the team was facing concerning injuries and the need for calm and steadfastness moving forward. "I have no complaints about the players who played today. It’s unfortunate because we had opportunities to tie and even win," he asserted, calling for patience as they navigate this difficult moment. "Football has these phases; we must ride through this rough patch with composure and maintain faith in our work."
Looking beyond this unexpected loss, Tigres must address its issues and regroup as they prepare for upcoming clashes. With the spotlight now focused on their recent challenges, the team is determined to regain its footing, eyeing future opportunities to demonstrate the high standard of play their fans expect. Nevertheless, the historical win for FC Juárez stands as a reminder of the unpredictability of competitive sports, where even the most dominant teams can falter unexpectedly.