The Liga MX Guard1anes Tournament 2021 has brought us an exciting journey towards the playoffs, and the knockout stage lived up to expectations as well. After quite a challenging road, only two teams remain alive and will fight for the highly desired trophy.
Cruz Azul booked their postseason ticket in great fashion as they were completely outstanding throughout the tournament, in which they finished atop the standings. La Máquina aim to put a 24-year drought to an end and after taking the lead in the first leg, this could be a golden chance to accomplish that goal.
Santos Laguna, however, remain alive and will try to spoil Los Cementeros' hopes and prevent them from ending their trophy-less streak. Here, check out at the Liga MX 2021 Playoffs schedule, format, bracket, and how to watch them in the US.
Liga MX 2021 Playoffs: Format
The best twelve teams of the regular season standings have qualified for the big party. The first four secured a quarterfinal spot, while sides seeded from five through twelve took part in a preliminary, one-legged round. From quarterfinals onwards, the series have home and away matches, handing the best-ranked teams the advantage of playing the rematch at home.
Liga MX 2021 Playoffs: Teams
Cruz Azul, Club America, Puebla, and Monterrey earned a place in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the teams who have qualified for the Wild Card round were Santos, León, Atlas, Pachuca, Chivas, Tigres, Toluca, and Querétaro.
In the Wild Card weekend, Atlas beat Tigres, Pachuca saw Chivas off, Santos defeated Queretaro, and Toluca knocked León out.
Cruz Azul, Pachuca, Puebla, and Santos Laguna, went on to progress to the semifinals, before the Guerreros and La Máquina booked their ticket to the grand final of the tournament.
Liga MX 2021 Playoffs: Schedule and How to Watch in the US
Following the quarterfinal round, the semifinals are ready to go and they will start this week with first leg duels, while the rematches will take place in the upcoming weekend.
Final - First leg
. Santos Laguna 0-1 Cruz Azul - Thursday, May 27
Final - Second leg
. Cruz Azul vs. Santos Laguna - Sunday, May 30 at 9:15 PM (ET)
How to watch in the US: TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN USA, and Univision.
Liga MX Playoffs 2021 Wild Card round
Atlas 1-0 Tigres
Santos Laguna 5-0 Querétaro
León 2-2 Toluca (Toluca won 2-4 on penalties)
Pachuca 4-2 Guadalajara
Liga MX Playoffs 2021 Quarterfinals - First Leg
Toluca 3-1 Cruz Azul
Atlas 1-0 Puebla
Pachuca 3-1 Club América
Santos Laguna 2-1 Monterrey
Liga MX Playoffs 2021 Quarterfinals: Second leg
Puebla 1-0 Atlas
Cruz Azul 3-1 Toluca
Monterrey 1-1 Santos Laguna
América 4-2 Pachuca
Liga MX Playoffs 2021 Semifinals: First leg
Pachuca 0-0 Cruz Azul
Santos Laguna 3-0 Puebla
Liga MX Playoffs 2021 Semifinals: Second leg
Cruz Azul 1-0 Pachuca
Puebla 1-0 Santos Laguna
Liga MX Playoffs 2021 Final: First leg
Santos Laguna 0-1 Cruz Azul
Liga MX 2021 Playoffs: Bracket
Following the semifinal round, the race for the Liga MX trophy was reduced to two teams who will be fighting in the grand final seeking local glory. Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna are going to decide the Mexican league champions in the first half of the 2021 season.
Liga MX 2021 Playoffs: Rules
- The team with more goals on aggregate wins the series and advances.
- The away goals rule applies in the quarter and semifinals, but not in the final.
- In quarterfinals and semifinals, if the two sides are tied on aggregate and away goals, the highest-ranked in the regular-season table moves forward.
- In the final, if the two teams are tied on aggregate, the second leg would have an extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
