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.
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, Pumas, America prepare for Mexico City clash