French international Andre-Pierre Gignac and his Tigres side have crashed out of the Mexican playoffs after losing 4-3 on aggregate to bitter crosstown rivals Monterrey.
Reigning champion Tigres secured a 2-1 victory in an exciting quarterfinal second leg, but it wasn't enough as Monterrey's first leg victory sealed its place in Liga MX's final four.
Jesus Duenas headed a powerful opener in the 11th minute, and Brazilian Rafael Sobis tapped home a deft pass from Gignac to double the lead in the 27th.
Tigres conceded a penalty five minutes into the second half, but Colombian forward Dorlan Pabon failed to capitalize from the spot.
Los Rayados faithful heaved a collective sigh of relief when Cesar Montes struck from close range in the 70th minute to close out the tie.
Tigres will take positives from the 108th Clasico Regio, as the team dominated the first half and had more possession overall. Yet while Los Rayados struggled in the second fixture, they started the game cushioned by a 3-1 victory at Estadio Universitario in the first leg on Wednesday.
Having eliminated their bitter rivals in the Liguilla for the fifth consecutive time, Monterrey remains favourite to close in on the championship.
Los Rayados finished the regular season as the highest placed team and racked up an impressive total of 38 goals scored in 17 games.
In Saturday night's other quarterfinal second leg, Leon advanced past Morelia with a straightforward 4-1 win.
Luis Montes scored twice, while Mauro Boselli added another within seconds of the second-half kickoff, with Elias Hernandez also of the scoresheet.
In Sunday's quarterfinals, Pachuca face Santos Laguna after Thursday's 1-1 tie, while the country will stop dead in its tracks for the second Clasico Nacional of the week, as America play Chivas following a tense goalless draw on Thursday.