Liga MX Apertura Playoff Preview 2024 | OneFootball

The regular season has wrapped, the play-ins are complete, and the Liga MX Apertura 2024 playoffs are set to deliver another thrilling chapter in Mexican football. Reigning champions Club América enter the Liguilla aiming to defend their crown. Joining them are Tijuana, who displayed a masterclass to silence Atlas.

The stage is now set for an intense battle among the league’s best. With high stakes, bitter rivalries, and unpredictable outcomes ahead, the Liguilla promises to showcase the drama and passion that makes Liga MX one of the most entertaining leagues in the world. Here's a breakdown of the quarterfinal matchups and the storylines to watch as the playoffs unfold.

(1) Cruz Azul vs Tijuana (8)

First Leg: Wednesday 27th November 2024, 21:10 (CST) @Estadio CalienteSecond Leg: Saturday 30th November 2024, 19:10 (CST) @Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes

Cruz Azul enter the Liguilla as the favourite. Recording the best record during the regular season, La Maquiná has the best offensive and defensive record in the league. Their dangerman has been Angel Sepúlveda who contributed with nine goals during the regular season, but Los Xolos will want to be prepared for Greek striker Giorgos Giakoumakis who scored a brace in a 3-0 win when the sides met earlier this season.

Tijuana dominated their play-in clash against Atlas, signalling their intent to shake things up in the Liguilla. José Zúñiga stole the spotlight, scoring three goals across the two games as Los Xolos showcased a relentless and dynamic attacking approach. Known for their preference to control possession, Juan Carlos Osorio’s side boasted the highest possession percentage in the regular season—a style they’ll aim to use to wear down Cruz Azul over the two legs. Despite the daunting challenge of facing the top-seeded La Máquina, Tijuana can draw confidence from their recent history, having secured two victories in their last five meetings against the league leaders.

(2) Toluca vs Club América (7)

First Leg: Wednesday 27th November 2024, 19:00 (CST) @Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes Second Leg: Saturday 30th November 2024, 17:00 (CST) @Estadio Nemesio Diez

Toluca closed out the regular season in emphatic fashion, sending a clear message to the rest of the league: they’re ready for battle. Their 4-1 dismantling of reigning champions Club América, who now await them in the quarterfinals, showcased the team’s attacking prowess. Los Diablos Rojos have been a force going forward, finishing just one goal shy of Cruz Azul’s league-best tally. A significant part of their success has been summer signing Paulinho, whose clinical form has seen him net 13 goals in 17 matches, solidifying his status as one of the league's top threats.

There’s no denying that Club América have fallen short of expectations this season. The reigning bi-campeones finished the regular season in a modest eighth place, only securing their Liguilla spot with a dramatic penalty-shootout win over Tijuana. After a rocky start to the campaign, they showed flashes of their true potential with victories over Chivas and Atlas, followed by a hard-fought win against Monterrey. However, a humbling defeat in the final game of the regular season has set the stage for redemption. With a chance to avenge that loss, América will make the short trip to the Estado de México for a decisive second-leg clash against Toluca.

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(3) Tigres UNAL vs Atlético de San Luís (6)

Tigres opened the season in impressive form, going unbeaten in their first seven games. Though they stumbled with surprising losses to city rivals Monterrey and a struggling Querétaro side yet to win at the time, Veljko Paunović’s squad displayed flashes of their potential throughout the regular season. André-Pierre Gignac once again proved his worth, scoring seven goals, while Juan Brunetta, Jonathan Herrera, and Nicolás Ibáñez also contributed significantly in attack. As the third seed, Tigres carry a psychological edge into their quarterfinal matchup with San Luís, boasting an 11-game unbeaten streak against them that dates back to 2018. They'll aim to maintain that dominance as the two sides meet in this crucial double-header.

San Luís earned the nickname "giant killers" during the regular season, taking down some of Liga MX's biggest names. They handed Cruz Azul their only loss of the campaign and claimed victories over reigning champions Club América, Chivas, and Monterrey. While their record against Tigres is less encouraging, Los Potosinos will draw confidence from their strong finish to the season, winning five of their final seven matches. With momentum on their side, they’ll aim to flip the script against their more fancied opponents in this highly anticipated quarterfinal clash.

(4) Pumas UNAM vs Monterrey (5)

There was little to separate Pumas and Monterrey during the regular season, but the capital club holds a slight edge heading into the Liguilla. Pumas have lost just once in their last nine games, dating back to September, making them one of the toughest sides to break down. Their defensive solidity is reflected in their record of conceding the second-fewest goals in the regular season—just one more than league leaders Cruz Azul. However, their attacking output remains a concern. Of the eight teams left in the playoffs, Pumas have the worst goal tally, managing just 21, with César Huerta leading the way with only five goals to his name.

Monterrey’s regular season was marked by inconsistency. A humbling 4-0 loss to Cruz Azul early on was a clear low point, but their 4-2 triumph in the Clásico Norteño offered a much-needed boost in confidence. However, Martín Demichelis’ side struggled against fellow quarterfinalists, managing just one win, two draws, and four losses in those matchups. Their encounters with Pumas were particularly tight—playing out a 0-0 draw in late October and losing to the Mexico City side in a penalty shootout during the Leagues Cup after a 1-1 draw in regulation. Monterrey will need to overcome these challenges to advance past a resilient Pumas team.