The Liguilla field is set after Cruz Azul beat Necaxa, 4-1, on Sunday, April 26 to secure the No. 3 seed in Liga MX’s playoffs.
The Mexico City club returned to the Estadio Azteca for the first time this season in a match that also marked the debut of Joel Huiqui as interim manager after Nicolas Larcamon was fired just days before the start of the postseason. A loss would’ve seen La Maquina slip into an intimidating series with reigning champion Toluca, but the victory Sunday set up a series with Atlas, seen as an easier matchup and a team Cruz Azul beat 2-0 in the regular season.
The other two top-division clubs in Mexico City will square off in the quarterfinals. Pumas closed out a one-loss regular season with a 2-0 win at Pachuca to secure the top slot, while Club América slipped to an uncharacteristic sixth loss of the 17-game campaign. That sets up a showdown between the two grandes, the label placed on the four clubs in Mexico with the most historic success and biggest fan bases.
Will Mexico national team players play in the Liguilla?
This will be a quirky edition of the Liga MX playoffs, with Mexico national team players set to be released from their clubs for a training camp that begins May 6 and will lead into the World Cup — taking place in Mexico as well as in the United States and Canada. That means most players called up will miss the entire Liguilla, though a few clubs might try to keep their players through the first legs of the quarterfinals, which will take place May 2 and May 3.
Spain – 17th appearance
Brazil – 23rd appearance
United States of America – 12th appearance
Mexico – 18th appearance
England – 17th appearance
Portugal – ninth appearance
France – 17th appearance
Iran – seventh appearance
Switzerland – 13th appearance
Croatia – seventh appearance
Australia – seventh appearance
Morocco – seventh appearance
Austria – eighth appearance
Ecuador – fifth appearance
Senegal – fourth appearance
South Korea – 12th appearance
Japan – eighth appearance
Colombia – seventh appearance
Netherlands – 12th appearance
Germany – 21st appearance
Belgium – 15th appearance
Canada – third appearance
Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
Uzbekistan – first appearance
Jordan – first appearance
Tunisia – seventh appearance
South Africa – fourth appearance
Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
Scotland – ninth appearance
Algeria – fifth appearance
New Zealand – third appearance
Paraguay – ninth appearance
Egypt – fourth appearance
Cape Verde – first appearance
Qatar – second appearance
Norway – fourth appearance
Panama – second appearance
Curacao – first appearance
Ghana – fifth appearance
Haiti – second appearance
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Spain – 17th appearance
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Spain – 17th appearance
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Brazil – 23rd appearance
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United States of America – 12th appearance
4 / 40
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Mexico – 18th appearance
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England – 17th appearance
6 / 40
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Portugal – ninth appearance
7 / 40
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France – 17th appearance
8 / 40
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Iran – seventh appearance
9 / 40
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Switzerland – 13th appearance
10 / 40
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Croatia – seventh appearance
11 / 40
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Australia – seventh appearance
12 / 40
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Morocco – seventh appearance
13 / 40
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Austria – eighth appearance
14 / 40
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Ecuador – fifth appearance
15 / 40
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Senegal – fourth appearance
16 / 40
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South Korea – 12th appearance
17 / 40
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Japan – eighth appearance
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Colombia – seventh appearance
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Netherlands – 12th appearance
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Germany – 21st appearance
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Belgium – 15th appearance
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Canada – third appearance
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Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance
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Uzbekistan – first appearance
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Jordan – first appearance
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Tunisia – seventh appearance
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South Africa – fourth appearance
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Ivory Coast – fourth appearance
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Scotland – ninth appearance
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Algeria – fifth appearance
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New Zealand – third appearance
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Paraguay – ninth appearance
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Egypt – fourth appearance
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Cape Verde – first appearance
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Qatar – second appearance
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Norway – fourth appearance
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Panama – second appearance
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Curacao – first appearance
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Ghana – fifth appearance
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Haiti – second appearance
Aguirre is expected to announce his list of domestic-based players Monday, April 27. Chivas de Guadalajara, a club which fields only Mexican players, is expecting to be the team hit hardest by the absences with at least five players likely included on the list to join El Tri.
Who will Chivas play in the Liguilla?
Chivas have been in first place for much of the campaign but are set to lose forward Armando “Hormiga” Gonzalez, attackers Roberto Alvarado and Brian Gutierrez, defender Richy Ledezma and goalkeeper Raul “Tala” Rangel.
After failing to beat Club Tijuana on the final day of the regular season, Gabriel Milito’s club slipped to second place and now are preparing for a series with No. 7 seed Tigres. Tigres have traditionally finished higher in the table over the last decade but struggled for consistency this year — though they are still alive in the Concacaf Champions Cup and will play their semifinal games against Nashville SC on either side of the playoff game.
Back-to-back Liga MX champion Toluca also remains alive in the Concacaf Champions Cup and will need to balance minutes — and national team absences. The Diablos Rojos finished the season strong, blowing out Club Leon in a 4-1 victory, securing the five seed and setting up a matchup with Puebla.
The first legs of the series will take place May 2 and 3 with the deciding contests taking place May 9 and 10. The semifinals will be played between May 13-17 before the first leg of the final on May 21 and the second leg May 24.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Liguilla field set as Cruz Azul boosts seed, Mexico City grandes clash
