Miguel Herrera Club America

Liga MX Playoff Picture: Who will Club America, Tigres and Monterrey play in the Liguilla?

The Liga MX playoff picture is clear ahead of the final weekend of the regular season.

A showdown Saturday between Tijuana and Puebla will provide most of the drama. Otherwise, teams largely have their spots locked up already and can worry mostly about what their seed will look like.

Goal takes a look at what each team needs to continue their pursuits of the title or earn an advantage with a better seed:

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In the playoffs and fighting for seeding


Angel Mena Leon

A few teams already have their seed set. Leon locked up its spot in the playoffs earlier this month as it continued on its record winning streak. Despite a defeat to Chivas last week, Leon also has locked up its Superlider place thanks to Tigres dropping points against Puebla while using an alternate side between legs of the Concacaf Champions League final.

That said, Tigres' seed also is set in stone. With 34 points, Tuca Ferretti's side will finish 2nd and take on the 7th seed.

Tigres' crosstown rival Monterrey, fresh off the CCL victory, also has cinched its playoff place. Rayados face Atlas in the final week with a win good enough to secure 3rd but a loss potentially tumbling them as far down as fifth.

Cruz Azul is in position to nab home-field advantage in the quarterfinals with a win over Morelia on the final weekend. If La Maquina slip up, Pachuca could slide in and host the deciding contest of its first playoff series at the Estadio Hidalgo.

While home-field advantage would be harder to achieve, both Club America and Necaxa have secured their places in the postseason and are also fighting for seeding.


In the hunt


Fabian Castillo Club Tijuana

Tijuana and Puebla meet in the final weekend of the season in what will be a playoff decider. If Xolos win or draw in Estadio Caliente, they're onto the playoffs. If Puebla takes all three points, El Chielis and Co. will move into the postseason.


Better luck next year


Tomas Boy ChivasRefugio Ruiz

Toluca fought back from two goals down against Pumas on Sunday but couldn't get the winner. The 2-2 draw put the Red Devils out of contention to extend their season past this weekend.

Lobos BUAP also failed to give itself a chance heading into the last weekend, falling to Cruz Azul on Sunday. The loss eliminates the team from postseason contention.

Santos Laguna's hopes lasted until the next-to-last weekend of the season, but Los Guerreros' loss to America ended their outside chance at a playoff place.

Some of the league's 'grandes,' the four largest teams in the country historically won't be present at the big party. That includes Pumas, who were eliminated in Jornada 15 after a 2-1 loss to Cruz Azul and Chivas, which saw Tomas Boy take over and continue the losing skid the club is on.

Atlas, Queretaro and Morelia also have no chance at the playoffs and are playing for nothing but pride.

Not that the Tiburones Rojos would've been in the playoff picture either way, but Veracruz has zero points after being punished by FIFA. The club should go down but may be able to pay a fee to continue on in the first division.


If the playoffs started today...


(1) Leon vs. (8) Tijuana 

(2) Tigres vs. (7) America

(3) Monterrey vs. (6) Necaxa

(4) Cruz Azul vs. (5) Pachuca

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