It is not the situation they wanted: Playing at the home of one of their archrivals. And to make matters a bit more interesting, they must win to get into the playoffs.

That is the scenario Club América is facing as it heads into the final week of the regular season of the 2011 Clausura Tournament. Las Águilas (Eagles) must beat a good Pumas team Sunday at estadio Ciudad Universitaria.

It’s a match-up between two teams that hate each other. They don't forget previous matches against each other. They won't forget one series in particular. It was a three-game series during the 1984-85 season in which a referee's mistake ultimately cost América a title.

The rivalry has only intensified since then.

It’s so intense that it is ultimately felt in the stands. Fans are rowdy enough that the Mexico City police department considers it a maximum-security event. Extra officers are added to patrol inside and outside the stadium. And special crowd-control forces are deployed in the stands.

América must control what happens on the field if it wants to keep its season alive.

Coach Carlos Reinoso's team faces a Pumas club that is unbeaten at home this season. But even a win might not be enough for América to reach the playoffs. A perennial powerhouse and one of the richest clubs in North America, América needs Atlante to lose to Toluca and Atlas to lose or tie against Tigres.

Pumas doesn't have much to worry about. Beat América and it would be a bonus to their stellar season. Pumas is the first place team in the league standings. It has lost only once in a Week 12 match-up at Jaguares de Chiapas. Pumas tied against Chivas and Pachuca at home.

Pumas has one of the league's best offenses, with 27 goals. Its defense has allowed nine goals. That is second best in the league.

América has the worst defense after allowing 29 goals while its offense has scored the same number of goals.

Pumas and América have faced each other 82 times since 1975. América leads the series, 28-24-30.

The Xolos

Club Tijuana's road to the Mexican First Division began with a quarterfinal home-and-away series against Cruz Azul Hidalgo in the Liga de Ascenso playoffs.

In the first match Thursday the Xolos tied Cruz Azul Hidalgo, 2-2. Tijuana hosts Cruz Azul on Sunday at 1 p.m. Estadio Caliente in the final match of the series.

If the Xolos win the Liga de Ascenso 2011 Clausura Tournament final, it would automatically be promoted the first division next season. The Xolos are the league's defending champions.