Key Match: León vs. Monterrey in Pursuit of Direct Quarter-final Spot
As both León and Monterrey vie for a direct spot in the quarter-finals of the Clausura 2025 tournament, Sergio Ramos and James Rodríguez will face off in a highly anticipated reunion. This encounter marks their first meeting on Mexican soil since their time together at Real Madrid from 2014 to 2017, including the 2019-20 season.
Shared Glory at Real Madrid
During their time as teammates at Real Madrid, Ramos and Rodríguez contributed to a remarkable nine titles: three in Spain (2 La Liga and 1 Copa del Rey) and six internationally (2 UEFA Champions League, 2 UEFA Super Cup, and 2 FIFA Club World Cup).
Current Standings and Implications
León, currently fifth with 30 points, can secure a quarter-final spot by defeating Monterrey. A draw or even a loss, provided Pachuca and Necaxa do not win or surpass them in goal difference, would still secure León’s place.
- León: In the best-case scenario, they secure a direct quarter-final spot by winning against Monterrey. If they lose or draw, they can still advance via play-in (repechaje) if Pachuca and Necaxa do not surpass them in points or goal difference.
- Monterrey: Ranked eighth with 25 points, Monterrey must win against León and hope for Pachuca and Necaxa to lose or draw in their respective matches.
Three Quarter-final Spots Available
With Toluca and Cruz Azul already securing direct quarter-final spots, only three remain. America, with 31 points, is nearly guaranteed a spot due to their goal difference advantage, though it remains unmathematically confirmed.
- Tigres (30 points)
- León (30 points)
- Pachuca (28 points)
- Necaxa (28 points)
- Monterrey (25 points)
The two teams that fail to secure a quarter-final spot will compete in the play-in stage, designed for clubs ranked from seventh to tenth.
FC Juárez has already secured a play-in spot, while the last available spot in this repechaje will go to either Pumas (21 points) or Guadalajara (20 points).
Match Schedule and Broadcast Information
Friday, April 18
- Puebla vs. Necaxa: 19:00 horas on TV Azteca and Fox Sports
Saturday, April 19
- América vs. Mazatlán: 17:00 horas on Canal 5, TUDN, ViX
- FC Juárez vs. Querétaro: 19:00 horas on Tubi
- Toluca vs. Cruz Azul: 19:05 horas on Televisa, TUDN, ViX
- Tigres vs. Pumas: 21:00 horas on TV Azteca
- Atlas vs. Chivas: 21:10 horas on Televisa, TUDN, ViX
Sunday, April 20
- Santos Laguna vs. Tijuana: 17:00 horas on Televisa, TUDN, ViX
- Atlético San Luis vs. Pachuca: 19:00 horas on ESPN
- León vs. Monterrey: 19:05 horas on Tubi
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of this match for León and Monterrey? Both teams are vying for a direct quarter-final spot. A win or favorable results in other matches could secure their position.
- Who are the current leaders securing direct quarter-final spots? Toluca and Cruz Azul have already secured their places in the quarter-finals.
- How many quarter-final spots are still available? Three spots remain, with America nearly confirmed and five teams competing for them.
- What channels will broadcast the León vs. Monterrey match? The game will be available on Tubi.
