LIGA MX
Will André-Pierre Gignac be fit to play for Tigres against América on matchday 17 of Liga MX Apertura 2023?
The French striker suffered a hip injury against Atlético San Luis and was forced off the field in the second half.
Good news for Tigres ahead of Saturday’s home game against Club América and the Liga MX Apertura 2023 playoffs. The hip injury suffered by star striker André Pierre-Gignac in the second half of last weekend’s clash with Atlético San Luis isn’t as bad as was first feared and he is expected to be fit to face Las Águilas after taking part in training on Tuesday.
The Frenchman had trained alone in the gym on Monday but was able to take to the field with the rest of the group the following day, appearing to be moving freely and to have come through the session unscathed.
What is at stake for Tigres against Club América?
The game against América will determine in which position Robert Siboldi’s side finish in the regular standings and who they will subsequently face in the liguilla. As it stands, Los Auriazules sit in second spot but they face a battle to hang onto that position. Third-placed Monterrey are level with them on 29 points but still have two games to play (against Santos Laguna and Querétaro). Tigres could hardly have picked a more difficult last game, although André Jardine’s side are already assured of finishing as “super leaders”.
Which Tigres players are one yellow card away from a liguilla suspension?
With Gignac fit to play, Siboldi thoughts will now turn to a number of players who are one yellow card away from a suspension. Sebastián Córdova, Diego Lainez and Nahuel Guzmán, all key men for Tigres, will miss the quarter-final first leg if they are booked against América, which could lead to them being rested.
Once the league phrase of the Apertura 2023 is completed, all yellow cards are wiped, with players beginning the liguilla with a clean slate.