LIGA MX
Liga MX Clausura Matchday 17: Start times, last day of regular season permutations
Play-off places and a top 12 finish are all on the line this weekend as the 18 Liga MX sides play their final game of the 2023 Clausura regular season.
The regular phase of the Clausura 2023 comes to an end this weekend with matchday 17 in a round of games which will establish which teams of the 18 in the league wrap up their season and which 12 advance to the postseason stage of the competition.
This is set to be the final short season with the ‘repechaje’ system where the top 12 teams (out of a league composed of 18 clubs) advance to the postseason and incredibly the team that finishes 12th in the league, could feasibly be crowned champions.
Clausura 2023: Top Four
We know the names of three of the four teams that have secured a playoff place with one game remaining and after the round of 16 games, table toppers Rayados along with Club America and Chivas have punched their tickets for an automatic playoff place. The final spot will be a battle between Toluca (currently in fourth) and 2022 Apertura champions Pachuca with the Red Devils holding a one point advantage over Tuzos.
Matchday 17
The matchday 17 action kicks off on Friday,28 April as FC Juárez take on Club América at 9:05 p.m (local). ‘Los Bravos’ need to win to have any hope of a place in the playoffs, while the Águilas with a victory secure their direct place in the quarterfinals and finish runner-up in the tournament.
Puebla vs Xolos was changed from Friday due to an issue with volcanic ash. The match was going to be played on Friday, but it was changed to Saturday and will start at 5:00 p.m (local time). The modification also affected the Atlético San Luis vs. Atlas game that was going to be played in the afternoon, with that game now going ahead at 7:00 p.m.
7:05 p.m. (local time) sees two other games starting as Monterrey face Pumas in a duel where ‘Los Rayados’ know that their status as top placed side is guaranteed but Pumas need the win to secure a top 12 finish. At the same time, Chivas face Mazatlán with nothing at stake with both teams aware of their postseason fate.
Cruz Azul vs Santos concludes the Saturday activity, in a game that will be held at 9:05 p.m.
The matchday 17 action concludes on Sunday with a triple bill. At noon Toluca will play Necaxa, Querétaro vs Pachuca starts at 5:00 p.m. and the action comes to an end with Leon vs. Tigres at 7:05 p.m.
Dreaming of the Repechaje
Toluca/Pachuca along with Leon, Tigres and Cruz Azul have all secured a top 12 finish with the other four spaces still to be decided on the final matchday. Atlas, Santos Laguna, Pumas and San Luis currently hold positions 9-12 and are favourites for a place in the repechaje, however, results on the last day still offer Puebla, Xolos and even Juarez all with an outside shot of securing a place in the top 12 with Queretaro ineligible to secure a place in the repechaje due to the lowest coefficient.