Overview of the Mexican Soccer League (Liga MX) Apertura Tournament
In the Liga MX Apertura tournament, Chivas from Guadalajara secured their place in the postseason following Querétaro’s 2-1 victory over Bravos de Ciudad Juárez. This win allowed Chivas to join the postseason, also known as the liguilla, alongside Cruz Azul, Toluca, América, Tigres UANL, and Monterrey.
The Liguilla and Play-In Matches
The teams ranked from 7th to 10th will participate in a stage called the “Play-In.” In this round, the 7th place team will face the 8th, and the 9th will play against the 10th. The winner of each match advances to the quarterfinals, while the loser will face the winning team from the other Play-In match to determine the last postseason participant.
Chivas from Guadalajara currently hold 6th place with 26 points. Even if they lose their upcoming match against Monterrey on Saturday, they will maintain their position.
Querétaro’s Victory Details
The match, which opened the 17th and final round of the regular season, was played at Estadio Olímpico Benito Juárez. Querétaro took the lead early, scoring their first goal at the 12-minute mark through Ali Ávila’s close-range shot following a cross by Argentine player Lucas Rodríguez.
At the 22-minute mark, Querétaro extended their lead when Colombian defender Moisés Mosquera accidentally scored an own goal while attempting to clear a cross.
Bravos de Ciudad Juárez narrowed the gap to 1-2 at the 57-minute mark, with Colombian player Diego Valoyes heading in a corner kick from the left side.
Despite the loss, Bravos de Ciudad Juárez qualified for the Play-In with 23 points, placing them 7th in the standings.
Upcoming Matches
Later on Friday, Tijuana will face Atlas, and Mazatlán will play against Necaxa. The remaining matches for the day include:
- Tigres UANL vs. Atlético de San Luis
- Guadalajara vs. Monterrey
- León vs. Puebla
- Toluca vs. América
- Cruz Azul vs. Pumas UNAM
The round concludes on Sunday with Pachuca visiting Santos Laguna.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Liga MX Apertura tournament? It is the annual soccer tournament in Mexico, where teams compete for the championship title. The top six teams at the end of the regular season advance directly to the postseason, known as the liguilla.
- What is the Play-In stage? The Play-In is a knockout round in which teams ranked 7th to 10th compete. The winners of these matches advance to the quarterfinals, while the losers face off in a second match to determine the final postseason participant.
- How does Chivas’ position affect their postseason chances? Despite potentially losing their upcoming match against Monterrey, Chivas from Guadalajara are guaranteed a spot in the liguilla due to their current 6th-place standing with 26 points.
