For the Clausura 2012, Tigres hired Brazilian forward Edno and midfielder Elias Hernández. The season ended with Tigres in fifth place, securing postseason. In the quarter-finals, they beat Monarcas Morelia 1–0 at the Estadio Universitario with a goal from Héctor Mancilla, while in the second leg, they triumphed 4–1 in Morelia with goals from Hugo Ayala, Edno, Lucas Lobos and Elias Hernández; the aggregate score was 5–1. In semi-finals, they faced old rival Santos Laguna; in the first leg, at the Estadio Universitario, the teams drew 1–1, with Lobos scoring for Tigres. In the second, after a total domain of Tigres, and winning 2–0 with goals of Mancilla, Santos tied dramatically 2–2 with goals from Oribe Peralta in the 87th and 90th minutes. With an aggregate score of 3–3, Santos progressed to the next phase because they had finished the regular season in first place. In the Apertura 2012, Tigres replaced Héctor Mancilla with Spanish forward Luis García. Tigres finished in 12th place, thus missing playoffs.