Under most pressure, the Futbol Americas crew pick between the two teams for their play-in clash. (1:18) The start of the playoffs is here! 12 teams are still in the running for the Clausura title after 17 weeks of regular-season play. The Liguilla will begin with the play-in round on Saturday and Sunday, with spots five through 12 competing for spots in the quarterfinals. Ahead of the first play-in matches, we have everything you need to know, beginning with the title favorites: The MLS, LaLiga, and Bundesliga are live on the internet.
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It might seem unfair for Pachuca to start with Tigres, but they have one of the best rosters in all of North America. The Tigres side that finished in the semifinals last season under the leadership of managerPiojo Herrera seems to have even more attacking bite. Tigres will lose their bite if the league-leading goal scorer is not fully fit for the quarterfinals.
Unlike Tigres, who rely on marquee names, Pachuca are more of a balance of promising young academy players and smart low-key international signings. Pachuca was the first team in the table with 30 goals and the best defense with only 15 allowed, thanks to the manager's use of a vertical 4-2-3-1 formation. Pachuca have yet to lose at home this season, which could prove to be beneficial when hosting second legs as the No.1 seed.
Club America is fourth in the regular season and a part of the front-runners. Las Aguilas were resuscitated under interim manager Fernando Ortiz. Club America went through the tournament with six wins and one draw, no longer cautious in possession or a defensive mess. In a league with a lot of parity, momentum is important.
It would be appropriate for third-place Atlas to have a spot within a possible Tier 1.5. They are resilient in defense and level with Pachuca on fewest goals allowed, but there is something missing about their attack. Their xG tally of 18.16 is the worst from the top four and the fifth worst in the league. It is safe to have some doubts about Atlas after Jairo Torres left for Chicago Fire FC.
The sixth-place team is easily in the mix for the playoffs. Similar to Club America, they have been given a boost in confidence through an interim manager. Four wins in four games has been the norm since last month. In net, the man known as "Wacho" seems to have found a second wind in his career with a growing list of impressive performances. They will host the play-in round on Sunday.
We have fifth-place Puebla on the opposite end of the spectrum. Puebla have not gained a point in the past three games they have played. The club was sitting at the top of the table for most of the first half of the season. There is a lot to like about the manager and his team. The hard-working squad scored late game winners and equalizers throughout the year. The past few weeks may have been a break of sorts before another late resurgence, beginning with a play-in round match at home against Mazatlan this Sunday.
On paper, it should be a Tier 1 team. They have one of the most passionate fan bases in Mexico and are led by a well-respected and veteran manager. Los Rayados are often too inconsistent for a club of their caliber, even though success should be a guarantee. A Tier 2 spot is more appropriate for the seventh-place team because of injury issues for a few key players. They will host San Luis in the play-in round.
Even though the team wasn't able to win the CCL title on Wednesday, it was still a successful campaign for the team that wasn't expected to make it this far. They'll be hungry for a trophy after recently losing to Seattle Sounders FC, but any upcoming playoff opponents shouldn't undermine the 11th-place squad that seem to always punch above. Keep an eye on the manager and his team.
Since winning the Apertura title a year ago, Cruz Azul are almost completely different. A promising start to the year led to irregular performances and worrisome displays from their goal- scoring options. Defensively, they have gone through bad mistakes, and neither Jesus Corona nor Sebastian Juarado have been good for more than a few games. If the eighth-place team ended their Liguilla run against Necaxa on Saturday, it would be no surprise.
There is hope for Necaxa this weekend, but it is hard to imagine Los Rayos going much further in the playoffs. All of the manager's top names will need to be firing on all cylinders.
Tenth-place San Luis are the most involved team in the playoffs. One week they are struggling against FC Juarez, the next they are dominating Club America at the Azteca. They will be an interesting side to watch no matter what happens, because they are good with hitting the target when needed.
We have 12th-place Mazatlan, who are probably just happy to be invited. Nicolas Vikonis, who did most of the heavy lifting for Mazatlan throughout the Clausura, will likely be the goalkeeping mainstay for most of their playoff hopes.
Gignac is nicknamed "Mr. Liguilla" because he has four titles since 2015. He is the leading scorer of the Clausura with 11 goals. There are no indications that he will miss more than the quarterfinals because of an injury.
Luis Chavez of Pachuca has looked like a candidate for an award. The Swiss Army knife of a player who can create chances, intercept the ball, win battles and also score from distance is the 26 year old. Chavez has a higher success rate than any other player in the league. A recent debut for Mexico's senior national team will boost his spirits.
Another name to follow isAlexis Vega. After looking inspired with three assists and a goal in his past three matches, the most talented name in Los Rojiblancos might be even more motivated in the playoffs after he signed an extension. If Vega continues his recent form, he could be in a position to win his first title with Guadalajara club.
A fresh perspective is all you need. Club America and Chivas are two of the most popular teams in the league. Depending on how things go, there could be a possible playoff match up between America's Ortiz and Chivas.
The Mexican soccer world was shocked by the titles of Atlas and Cruz Azul, but will there be another surprise winner in the Clausura? The only current playoff teams without a title are San Luis and Mazatlan. The longest Mexican first division championship drought is by Puebla, who last won a trophy in 1990 when their manager was just 5 years old.
Stadium security and the behavior of Mexican soccer supporters will be watched closely. In the wake of the fan violence in Queretaro that left 26 injured in March, Liga MX has cracked down on the use of anti-gay chants in the stands. There have been no major incidents since the league kicked out 411 people from the stadiums.
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