The wait will be over soon. This week, the Liga MX will return with an exciting Apertura 2021 to kick off the 2021/22 season. Cruz Azul head into this competitionas the reigning champions after ending a 24-year drought in the past Guard1anes tournament.
All eyes will be on the title holders and the exciting battle for the trophywhich will be at stake once again. Giants such as Club América, Monterrey, Chivas, Pumas, among many other teams, will be looking to redeem themselves by chasing the title again.
The Mexican soccer will bring us the first of the two tournaments of 2021/22, with the Apertura 2021 running throughout the first half of the season. Here, take a look at the schedule, format, matchdays, and key dates of the Liga MX Apertura 2021.
Liga MX Apertura 2021 Format
18 teams will competein the Apertura 2021, whichwill consist of17 rounds in a round-robin system before the playoffs.Like in the Clausura 2021, twelve teams from the first to the 12th of the table will get into the playoffs.
Eight of them (5th to 12th)will have to play firstin a Wild-Card round for a place in the quarter-finals, where the top-four seeded sides of the regular season will be waiting. Throughout the tournament, the battle for the playoff spots never fails to deliver, as every team wants to make it into the so-called Big Party.
When will the Liga MX Apertura 2021 start?
The Liga MX Apertura 2021 will kick off on July 22 and will run until November 7 before the playoffs begin. Querétaro and Club América will face each other in the opening game of the league on Thursday, July 22, at Estadio Corregidora at 10 PM (ET).
Liga MX Apertura 2021 Schedule
Liga MX Apertura 2021 Key Dates
The Apertura 2021 will present highly-anticipated matches that will be eagerly awaited by the soccer community not only in Mexico but in the US and the rest of the world. Check out the date of thederbiesin the Liga MX:
Monterrey vs Tigres – Sunday, September 19 (Round 9)
Club América vs Chivas – Saturday, September 25 (Round 10)
Chivas vs Atlas – Saturday, October 2 (Round 12)
Club América vs Pumas UNAM – Saturday, October 2 (Round 12)
Cruz Azul vs Club América – Sunday, October 31 (Round 16)
Liga MX Apertura 2021 Playoffs
The Liga MX Apertura 2021 Playoffs will begin on November 20 and 21 with the Wild-Cardround where teams from 5th to 12th will fight to get into the quarterfinals. The real contest, however, will begin with thelast eight stages that will take place from November 24 to 28.
The semifinals will bealso played in two-legged series between December 1 and 5. The dates for the grand final weren’t confirmed yet, but the idea is that the first leg wouldbe played between December 9 and 12, with the second leg expected to take place onDecember 23 or 26.