The 17-week regular season is over in Mexico, and now the real fun starts. The top eight teams have qualified for the Liguilla, then bottom ten haven’t, and from here on out we’ve got the stress and tension of the knockout rounds. Like any other year, surprises abound - although 2011 might be a little more shocking than usual. Defending Clausura champions UNAM Pumas? They finished ninth. CONCACAF Champions League winners Monterrey and North America’s representatives at the Club World Cup? 11th.
Mexican Primera, 2011 Apertura Liguilla Field Determined
Monterrey and UNAM Pumas are out, but the Liguilla field for the Mexican Primera 2011 Apertura is still intriguing.
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Here’s our matchups for the first round:
1. Chivas de Guadalajara (30 pts, +6 gd) vs. 8. Queretaro (26 pts, +3 gd)
2. Cruz Azul (29 pts, +7 gd) vs. 7. Monarcas Morelia (26 pts, +3 gd)
3. UANL Tigres (28 pts, +9 gd) vs. 6. Pachuca (26 pts, +3 gd)
4. Santos (27 pts, +4 gd) vs. 5. Jaguares Chiapas (26 pts, +5 gd)
By virtue of finishing in the top three places in the regular season, Chivas, Cruz Azul and UANL Tigres all qualify for the 2012 Copa Libertadores. Each set of fixtures will be home and away with the first round tiebreaker by seeding if the teams are level on aggregate at the end of the second match. Games are due to start November 16-17. Excited? So are we.
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