Football
Tom Marshall, Mexico correspondent 6y

Liga MX final expectation 'heavier ' for Toluca than Santos - Robert Siboldi

TOLUCA, Mexico -- Santos Laguna coach Robert Siboldi is adamant his side will not be going out simply to defend its 2-1 lead over Toluca from the first leg of the 2018 Clausura final in Sunday's return game.

Regular season leader Toluca is undefeated at Estadio Nemesio Diez in Liga MX play in 2018, but Siboldi's side will "go out to win" in one of Mexico's most difficult away stadiums.

"Without doubt playing in front of their fans can help them, but on the pitch are the players, no one from the stands is coming down to make a tackle, a save or score or goal," said Siboldi in a news conference on Sunday.

"This team is prepared to to get a good result on the road, I think playing in a final can weigh heavier than who is at home."

Siboldi said that Cape Verde striker Djaniny Tavares -- who has 16 goals in 19 games this season -- is 100 percent fit to start, although Mexico international Nestor Araujo is again likely to miss out.

"A goal is a big advantage, but it is not definitive," said Djaniny on Fox Sports' Ultima Palabra. "They will also suffer like we will suffer because we're not looking for a draw, we are going to try to win."

Santos Laguna had made a formal complaint to Liga MX about the behavior of Toluca center-back Sebastian Garcia towards Colombian forward Edwuin Cetre, which was alleged to involve racist comments, during the first leg last Thursday, but the disciplinary commission didn't find reason to sanction the defender.

Toluca is going for its 11th title, which would take the team to within one of Club America and Chivas, while Santos laguna is looking for its sixth, with the away goals rule not in place in the final.

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