Toluca vs. América: Intense Clash in Liga MX Jornada 17 as Both Teams Fight for Liguilla Spots

The highly anticipated match between Deportivo Toluca and Club América took place on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Estadio Nemesio Díez in Toluca, Mexico. This encounter was one of the most significant matches of Jornada 17 in the Apertura 2024 season of the Liga MX, with both teams fighting for crucial positions in the standings.

Club América, under the management of André Jardine, was in a critical position, needing a win to secure a direct spot in the Liguilla. The team had been on a strong run, winning six of their last seven games, which propelled them to sixth place in the league table with 27 points. A victory would have catapulted them to the fifth spot, while a loss or draw would have left them vulnerable to being overtaken by other teams like Atlético San Luis, Tijuana, and Chivas[2][3].

Toluca, managed by Renato Paiva, was also under pressure, having recently lost the sub-leadership position after a 2-1 defeat to Tigres. Despite this, Toluca remained strong at home, having not lost a game at the Nemesio Díez since Jornada 17 of the Clausura 2024. They were third in the league table with 32 points and aimed to maintain their position or even surpass Tigres to finish the regular season in second place[3][5].

The match was broadcast live on various channels, including Canal 5, TUDN, and ViX in Mexico, and Univision, TUDN, and ViX in the United States. The game kicked off at 7:00 PM Central Mexico Time, which is 8:00 PM Eastern Time, 7:00 PM Central Time, and 5:00 PM Pacific Time in the U.S.[3][5].

The historical context between the two teams added to the intensity of the match, with América not having lost to Toluca in their last four official encounters. The most recent match ended in a 5-1 victory for América during the Clausura 2024.

The Estadio Nemesio Díez was sold out for the event, with approximately 30,000 fans in attendance to support either Toluca or América. The match was officiated by Víctor Alfonso Cáceres, who has been involved in 16 matches of the Apertura 2024 as the central referee.