LIGA MX
The Azteca stadium will host its 15th Liga MX final
Next Sunday the Azteca stadium will host another final in the history of short tournaments in the Liga MX between Cruz Azul and Santos Laguna.
Cruz Azul has been the most consistent team during the 2021 Guardianes tournament. After 17 match days the ‘Machine’ finished in first place at the end of the regular season with 41 points and a record of 13-2-2 (W-D-L).
Cruz Azul’s road to the final
The ‘Machine’ also has the league's golden boot winner in their roster with Jonathan Rodríguez scoring 23 goals in the regular season and one in playoffs. Cruz Azul defeated Toluca in the quarter final on a 4-3 aggregate and then CF Pachuca on a 1-0 aggregate to progress to the final series of the tournament.
The last time Cruz Azul won the league title was in the winter of 1997 and since then they have lost six times in the final. The side from the capital will be hoping to end their championship drought but eill have to overcome a Santos Laguna side in a two-legged final that will conclude at the Azteca stadium.
Rematch of the 2008 final
Santos finished in fifth place at the end of the regular season and they had to play in the wild card round to book their ticket to the playoffs. They defeated Querétaro 5-0 in a single-elimination match, then Monterrey on a 3-2 aggregate in the quarter final and Puebla on a 3-1 aggregate in the semi final.
Now Cruz Azul will visit Santos in the first-leg and the second-leg will be played on Sunday at the Azteca stadium. This will be the 15th final in the history of short tournaments that will be hosted at one of the most historic venues in the history of football. Also this is the second time that both teams meet in the final. The first time was in the 2008 Clausura tournament and Santos took the trophy on a 3-2 aggregate, so Cruz Azul will be seeking revenge.