Overview of the Situation
Chivas, managed by Gabriel Milito, is just one point away from securing a direct spot in the Liguilla for the Apertura 2025 tournament in Liga MX. With a crucial 1-0 win against Pachuca at Estadio Hidalgo, Chivas now holds 26 points and occupies the sixth position in the league table, as the top five teams (Cruz Azul, Toluca, América, Tigres, and Monterrey) have already secured their Liguilla berths.
Key Player Performance
Armando ‘Hormiga’ González, one of the top three goal scorers in the Apertura 2025 season, scored the winning goal with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the area at the 71st minute, leaving Pachuca’s goalkeeper Carlos Moreno with no chance. This goal helped González tie with Portuguese Paulinho (Toluca) and Italian Joao Pedro (Atlético de San Luis) at 11 goals, with one match remaining in the regular season.
Chivas’ Recent Success
Despite Luis Romo’s red card at minute 73, Chivas has been on a winning streak, claiming six of their last seven Liga MX matches, including a 4-1 victory in the previous Clásico Tapatío against Atlas. This positive momentum has allowed Chivas to dream of qualifying for the Liguilla directly for the first time in three tournaments, last achieving it in the Clausura 2024 under Fernando Gago, when they finished sixth and reached the semifinals.
Current Standings and Future Prospects
Chivas was struggling near the bottom of the table in the first five rounds of Apertura 2025, but their recent winning run has kept them in the top six. With only one point separating Chivas and Pachuca before their Jornada 16 encounter, the match was vital for direct advancement to quarters. Now, Pachuca, coached by Jaime Lozano, is stuck with 22 points and can only hope to qualify through the Play-In route.
Bravos of Juárez and the Race for Liguilla
Bravos of Juárez, with 23 points after defeating Atlético de San Luis 2-1 away, could potentially snatch the last direct Liguilla spot from Chivas. However, Chivas holds a +5 goal difference advantage, meaning they would secure the sixth spot with a draw against Monterrey in Jornada 17. Bravos would need to win against Querétaro and hope for a Chivas loss.
Mathematical Analysis Post-Jornada 16
Only three teams have mathematically eliminated themselves from both the Liguilla and Play-In spots after Jornada 16: Mazatlán, León, and Puebla. However, there’s still one Play-In spot available for teams ranked 7th through 10th in the table.
Play-In Overview
Introduced in the Apertura 2023 tournament, the Play-In consists of three matches. The seventh-ranked team faces the eighth, while the ninth takes on the tenth. The winner of the seventh versus eighth match advances directly to quarters, while the loser gets a second chance against the winner of the ninth versus tenth match.
Apertura 2025 Liguilla Direct Spot (After Jornada 16):
- Cruz Azul – 35 points, +13 goal difference
- Toluca – 34 points, +23 goal difference
- América – 34 points, +17 goal difference
- Tigres – 33 points, +17 goal difference
- Monterrey – 31 points, +6 goal difference
- Chivas – 26 points, +5 goal difference
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What is the current position of Chivas in the Apertura 2025 table? A: Chivas is in the sixth position with 26 points.
- Q: Who scored the winning goal for Chivas against Pachuca? A: Armando ‘Hormiga’ González scored the goal.
- Q: How many points separate Chivas and Bravos of Juárez in the race for the last Liguilla spot? A: There is one point difference.
- Q: What is the Play-In format in the Apertura 2025 tournament? A: It consists of three matches, with the winners advancing to quarters and losers getting a second chance.
