With the end of the Jornada 17, Liga MX has officially entered the postseason stage. The end of the season have seen Monterrey, Club America, Chivas and Toluca finish in the top four, meaning they won’t face an opponent until the play-in round games finish. However, for places 5 through 12, they’re going to have to fight for a chance in Liguilla. With eight teams fighting for a spot in the quarter-finals, it will be a tight race for the title.
The biggest change to the play-in is the omission of Club Queretaro. Not due to their lack of points, but because los Gallos Blancos sit at the bottom of the percentage table, meaning they would have been relegated if Liga MX allowed promotion and relegation.
The Nuevo Leon team has been wildly inconsistent this year. Losing head coach Diego Cocca very early on in the season to the Mexican National Team. It left a sour note in the club, and their replacement ‘Chima’ Ruiz didn’t last long before the club replaced him with Uruguayan coach, Robert Siboldi.
Puebla, on the other hand, come off a rocky season, ending their run with a record of 6-2-9. This is their first season without beloved head coach Nicolas Larcamon, as he earned a move to Club Leon at the beginning of the season. With so many inconsistencies in their season, Tigres have the competitive edge on Puebla for this match-up, with the university team beating Puebla 1-0 a few weeks ago.
This would probably be the most even match-up in the playoffs. However, Santos holds a season-high record in Liga MX this time around; and it is not a good one. Los Laguneros have been the most scored on team this season. In 17 games, Santos have received a staggering 37 goals, the highest in the league. Their unreliability on the defense would have left them off the playoffs if it wasn’t for Queretaro’s disqualification.
Pachuca, on the other hand are the reigning champs, and though they have been underwhelming, their players are more than on the right rhythm to steamroll over Santos. Players like Luis Chavez, Kevin Alvarez, and Javier Lopez have been instrumental for Pachuca this season.
The stakes are higher than ever for Club Leon. With a CCL final on the line, La Fiera has repeatedly stepped up as a contender for the whole thing. Nicolas Larcamon has made this team a defensive powerhouse, conceding the least amount of goals this season with only 13 goals against. Combined with an inspired team Leon is the favorite for this tie.
Probably the most exciting match-up in the play-in, both teams have a lot to play for, considering both clubs have won a championship in recent years. However, Atlas boast a lethal attacking force consisting of star boys Julian Quiñones and Ozziel Herrera, who just made his debut for the Mexican National Team.
On the other hand, Cruz Azul’s best weapon is on the bench. Ricardo ‘El Tuca’ Ferreti took over the Maquina’s mantle halfway throughout the season, changing the course of their season since he was appointed.
The play-in is set to start on the weekend, with Cruz Azul – Atlas kicking things off.
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