Lucas Zelarayan (yellow jersey) has appeared in two 2015-16 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League games for Tigres. (Photo: Mexsport)

SAN NICOLAS DE LOS GARZA, Mexico – Heading into Tuesday’s Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League semifinal, second-leg encounter against visiting Queretaro, Tigres has experienced an unusual run of form. 

The Mexican champion’s last four games in all competitions have ended in draws and three were scoreless prior to a 2-2 stalemate with visiting Atlas on Saturday. 

Forward Lucas Zelarayan believes that his team is ready to turn the corner and can secure a place in the SCCL final. 

"I believe that we arrive well (for the game against Queretaro) even though the result we wanted on Saturday was not achieved,” said the 23-year-old, a scorer of one goal in 10 Liga MX Clausura appearances. “I think we had a good game, were superior to the opponent. We are confident in our team, in each of our teammates and we head into the game hopeful that we can achieve passage into the final.” 

Including the run of four consecutive draws, Tigres is winless in six straight games overall and currently sits seventh in the domestic standings with 17 points. Five teams are within a three-point striking distance, a precarious position for a side needing to finish in the top eight to participate in the postseason. 

UANL has conceded an impressively low three goals in its last four Liga MX outings, but has only found the back of the net against Atlas over that stretch.

"We know we have many things to correct that are not giving us the results, even though we haven’t lost, so it’s not so bad,” Zelarayan remarked. “I think that there are several things that need to be improved upon like finishing plays well, which is lacking. And, obviously, being more concentrated when defending. I think that by correcting some details we can get back up and start winning.” 

Both of Tigres’ meetings with Queretaro in 2016 have been on the road, each ending in a draw, including a goalless deadlock in the SCCL semifinal series opener last month. The Gallos Blancos are coming off a belief-boosting 4-2 win over Club Tijuana -- their first away win of the current campaign. 

"We know them,” finished Zelarayan, who joined Tigres in December from Argentina’s Belgrano. “We have met them twice, both as a visitor. I believe that (playing at home) is going to change the way of stopping the opponent and they (Queretaro) are going to come to wait for us a little here. 

“It is a team of great hierarchy. They have high-level players. They will try to get the ball from us far from their own arc and grab hold against us. We must be aware of that, handling the ball well, having great mobility in the midfield in order to go forward and generate scoring chances.” 

Tigres has struck for eight goals in this SCCL. If it earns a place in the final netting four goals or fewer against Queretaro in the second leg, it will become the lowest-ever scoring team to advance beyond the final four.