How often have América won Liga MX after finishing second in regular season?

After beating Juárez 1-0 on the Clausura 2023′s final matchday, Club América are all but certain to come second in the regular season - a position from which they have gone on to enjoy plenty of playoff success in the recent past.

Indeed, the club has won two of its last three Liga MX championships after a second-placed finish in the league phase.

América lead over Chivas as good as unassailable

Richard Sánchez’s first-half goal on Friday leaves América with a final regular-season points tally of 34, with third-placed Chivas three behind ahead of their matchday-17 clash with Mazatlán on Saturday.

If Chivas want to overtake their arch rivals in the standings, Los Rojiblancos will have to win by at least nine goals to finish with a better goal difference.

Regardless of results elsewhere this weekend, América’s victory over Juárez has secured Las Águilas’ place in the regular season’s top four, meaning they will qualify automatically for the eight-team playoffs proper.

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Two Liga MX triumphs from five second-placed finishes

Unless Chivas achieve the unlikely feat of pipping Fernando Ortiz’s men on goal difference, América will head into the postseason as regular-season runners-up for the sixth time in the Liga MX’s short-tournament era.

Since 1996, América’s previous second-placed finishes have come in the Clausura 2013, the Clausura 2015, the Clausura 2018, the Apertura 2018 and the Clausura 2021.

Of these five tournaments, two have seen Los Azul-Cremas lift the Mexican title in the playoffs. In the Clausura 2013, América edged Cruz Azul on penalties after a memorable final finished 2-2 on aggregate. In the Apertura five years later, the club won the most recent of its 13 championships by again beating Cruz Azul in the trophy decider, 2-0 on aggregate.

Those two title triumphs came either side of victory in the Apertura 2014, a tournament in which América were also the regular season’s top dogs.