Liga MX: 3 things from early Matchday 17 contests
We’re three games into the final regular-season Liga MX weekend and there are now eight teams locked into playoff berths. That leaves seven clubs jostling for the remaining four wildcard berths.
The Thursday and Friday night encounters helped resolve a few issues (Pachuca and Atlas earned playoff invitations and the “Relegation Standings” were sorted out) but Saturday’s schedule will sort out considerably more.
Sunday’s two Liga MX matches will complete the picture (Puebla visits Santos in a match to decide who claims the final first-round bye).
But before getting too far ahead in the calculations, here’s what we’ve learned so far:
1. Pachuca completes impressive turnaround to reach Liga MX playoffs
The past two months suggest Pachuca will be a tough out in the postseason as the Tuzos stormed down the stretch on a 6-1-1 run.
Academy products Roberto de la Rosa and Erick Sánchez led the team to a 5-1 rout of Atlético de San Luis, each scoring a brace. The result boosted the club’s goal differential to +1 which gives the Tuzos an advantage should Saturday night’s Chivas-Tigres match end in a draw.
Plaudits to Pachuca management who, despite the team’s 0-4-5 start, stuck with Paulo Pezzolano (just barely, it is true). But it paid off as the Uruguayan coach was rewarded for showing faith in the youngsters on the roster.
2. Atlas breathes easier after saving 50 million pesos
The Zorros not only qualified for the Liga MX playoffs for the first time since the Apertura 2017 season, they avoided having to pay a 120 million-peso “relegation” payout.
More from Liga MX
- Everything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’
- Baffling Liga MX ruling strips Puebla of a hard-earned victory
- Estadio Azteca will play host to two ‘Super Clásicos’ this weekend
- América in search of defensive help, Cruz Azul desperate for offense
- Scattershooting during the FIFA break: Liga MX transfer news
Atlas celebrated the latter by smashing last-place Necaxa 5-1, a result that ensures they will host a wildcard match next weekend.
“Los Rojinegros” knew before taking the pitch Friday night that they had escaped the Liga MX “Relegation Standings” cellar thanks to Atlético de San Luis’ loss to Pachuca. That meant Atlas would have to pay “only” 70 million pesos for finishing second-to-last (the Tuneros must fork over 120 million pesos).
In addition to saving big bucks, the Zorros also were eligible to claim a playoff spot as Liga MX rules prohibit the team finishing last in the “Relegation Standings” (a calculation based on each club’s performance over the past three season) from qualifying for the postseason.
3. Which Diablos Rojos team will show up in playoffs?
Toluca continued its up-and-down season with a shocking 1-0 road loss in Cd. Juárez.
The Diablos Rojos were coming off a splendid 3-1 win over América only to turn in a stinker against the lowly Bravos.
The win over the No. 2 seeded Aguilas had halted a 6-game winless streak that saw “los Choriceros” tumble from third to eighth in the Liga MX table.
Friday night’s setback means the Diablos Rojos have not mathematically secured a playoff spot, but the chances they will be denied a wildcard berth are minimal (Tijuana must outscore No. 1 seeded Cruz Azul at Estadio Azteca by 4 goals).
Next. Cruz Azul, Philly Union shine in CCL. dark
Toluca now must reckon with the fact they must win a wildcard match on the road to reach the Liguilla and the Diablos are 1-2-5 away from home. The club’s 6-4-7 record is a mediocre outcome after a 4-1-1 start.