🔥 It's Liguilla time! Here's your Liga MX playoff preview
What to watch for in all four series - and even where to watch them. Wow.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And we can be sure that ol’ Andy Williams was talking about the postseason when he mentioned the “hap, happiest season of all!”
As the playoffs start (or continue) in most leagues across the Concacaf region, consistently one of the most exciting trophy chases officially begins tonight in Mexico.
Here’s your series-by-series preview, including the U.S. TV information so you can tune in and get into the holiday spirit!
Does OneSoccer still have some Liga MX rights in Canada? Let me know, pals in the Great White North.
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OK, enough cross promotion. Here we go with the previews!
Chivas vs. Pumas
First leg: Thursday, 10:05p ET, Telemundo+Universo
Second leg: Sunday, 7p ET, TUDN
The series of the first round features two of the four traditional grandes. The teams had somewhat similar regular seasons, with the campaigns at times in risk of peril but ultimately ending up being … basically fine. Pumas ended up fourth on 28 points while Chivas was a slot behind with 27 points.
Chivas and Pumas played before the international break, if you recall the controversy of Alexis Vega returning from his long suspension for disciplinary reasons, taking a penalty that was saved and leading to lots of frustration in Guadalajara.
But Chivas believe this series will have a different result. For one, Vega is back with the group, and also attacker Roberto Alvarado (the top scorer for Chivas during the regular season with six goals) and center back Gilberto Sepúlveda should start after missing the regular-season match because of the risk of suspension.
That will beef up the quality of the team both up top and at the back, but Pumas goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez goes into the series full of confidence after his saves in the regular season finale. So, too, does Cesar Huerta, who pulled off five dribbles in that game. Against his former team, “Chino” seems to bring an extra level, and over the course of the series he’ll make several scoring chances for his fellow attackers.
With the talent level so close, the bench battle between Chivas boss Veljko Paunovic and Antonio Mohamed may be the difference. I can’t wait to see how they line up and what happens once the whistle blows.
América vs. León
First leg: Wednesday, 8:06p ET, TUDN
Second leg: Saturday, 8p ET, TUDN
There is no doubt that América is not only the favorite to get out of this tie but to lift the trophy. New manager Andre Jardine succeeded in his goal of solidifying América’s back line and with the attacking talents at his disposal was able to weather injuries to key contributors up front to fall just sort of setting a record for most points in a short tournament.
Nobody will remember any of that if Las Águilas screw up now.
While Brian Rodriguez remains out injured, the rest of América’s attacking crew is fit and ready, with the return of Diego Valdes and Leo Suárez giving Jardine the most options he’s had in some time.
Unlike Jardin, León boss Nicolas Larcamon must cover over some absences in his squad. Fidel Ambriz is suspended after his red card in the play-in win over Santos Laguna (Ambriz unleashed the goal of the postseason so far before getting sent off).
Lucas Romero suffered a concussion in that match and won’t be ready to go yet.
Liga MX fans believe there is a curse surrounding the Superlider, with the No. 1 seed often suffering a shocking and embarrassing loss once the playoffs begin. Looking at the rosters and the availability, spirits may be the only thing truly between América and the next round.
Tigres vs. Puebla
First leg: Thursday, 8:10p ET, TUDN
Second leg: Sunday, 9:10p ET, Univision+TUDN
This series is a total mismatch, right? Tigres have Mr. Liguilla, Andre-Pierre Gignac, who has always excelled in the postseason and wil- what? Oh, he’s out for the first leg? Hip issue? They’re not sure how much he’ll go in the second?
Well, I’m sure Puebla isn’t doing very well lately, right? I mean they only got into the playoffs in the first place because of a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Hmm, you say they’ve won their last three matches heading into the playoffs, including that game of the year candidate against León?
Out of basically nowhere, Guillermo Martinez started scoring and has goals in six of his last seven contests including the hat trick against León. Seriously, look at this:
He’s also good for a yellow card!
Puebla can feel like the anti-Tigres, but stopping them may be sort of like stopping Tigres at full-strength. It’s about making sure the talented forward doesn’t score. If he does, you’ve got to match him or do one better.
Tigres are deep enough to generate attack without Gignac. “We’re not dependent on him” winger Luis Quinones said today. “That makes us strong. Whoever plays, plays. That’s the mentality.”
It’s why they brought in Nicolas Ibañez. It’s why they added Diego Lainez and Marcelo Flores from Europe. We saw what Sebastian Cordova can do in the playoffs last Liguilla.
The champs are the champs for a reason. It’s going to take more than a hot hand to knock them off.
Rayados vs. Atlético San Luis
First leg: Wednesday, 10:10p ET, TUDN
Second leg: Saturday, 10:10p ET, TUDN
For most of the tournament, it felt like Atlético San Luis was the Cinderella story. Then, they floundered down the stretch, with the back line anchors of Unai Bilbao and Julio Cesar “Cata” Dominguez starting to come unmoored and concede goals. San Luis failed to win any of the final five matches of the regular season. That put them in the play-in, where they bounced back and won their home match to secure a playoff series against Rayados.
After their long Leagues Cup run resulted in a fourth-place finish, the questions surrounding Rayados have been about fitness. Monterrey manager Tano Ortiz can send out a mostly fit squad. It’s not clear if Rogelio Funes Mori will start or if German Berterame will play as a lone forward. It is clear that Rayados will have Jordi Cortiz and Alfonso Gonzalez working behind them to set up chances while Luis Romo will play his usual box-to-box.
It’s a team built to lift the trophy that has been dogged by inconsistency. Now is the time to find rhythm.
As always, I’ll have more coverage during the course of the Liguilla, especially for premium subscribers. It’s $5 for the month or $50 to enjoy in-depth, English-language coverage of soccer in Mexico and the rest of the region!