America is very close to securing its place in the quarterfinals of the Apertura 2021
The future of Liga MX is almost defined and the clubs are looking for the last points to see if they have a chance to fight for the title. The first four places are the most valued, since they are the only ones that are worth a direct place to the league, since from place 5 to 12, they still have to go through the repechage.
Next, in ESPN Digital we leave you the panorama of each team and the opportunities they have for the league or playoffs, as the case may be.
The Eagles were the first team to secure the playoffs. Those led by Santiago Solari are immovable in this phase, but they want to qualify directly taking advantage of their position in the table, as they are general leaders with 31 units. With three games to play and a good effectiveness, it is almost a matter of time before they tie up a place in that area.
The only way they can get out of the top four is for them to lose their remaining three games and for Atlas and Toluca to win all of their remaining games. In addition, Tigres and Cruz Azul or León can still surpass him in points if they win all their games.
A simple draw against Tigres at the weekend or a combination of results would secure them a place in the quarterfinals.
Atlas (23 points)
Los Rojinegros have 23 units and are one of the surprises of the tournament. With the tie of this date against Cruz Azul, Diego Cocca’s pupils remained in second place in the general table. The people from Guadalajara have not yet guaranteed the playoffs, since the 13th place, which is Pachuca, can still reach them.
The cats won against Pachuca and got into the first four places. With the victory against the Tuzos they were placed in the third step and those of Miguel Herrera want to close the tournament strong to avoid the repechage. Regiomontanos, even, can be super leaders if they win all their games, America loses all and Atlas and Toluca do not add more than six points.
The Devils are going down and barely rescued a tie on the double date against Necaxa. Despite everything, they remain in the top four places and hope to go straight into the league. The Scarlets have three games left and they can overtake America for the lead, but they could still be out of playoffs in the most catastrophic scenario.
The collapse of the Monterrey team against Querétaro was expensive, since Javier Aguirre’s pupils were left with 20 units with three games to go and came out of the first four places in the general table.
Even Pumas and Necaxa, who are in the last places of the general table, can reach them in units. Both teams are six units away from La Pandilla when nine remain in dispute.
The Machine is not half of what it was the previous season and the championship hit them with everything. The celestial are in the sixth position of the general table with 19 units and four games to play. In case of winning those 12 points, they could climb to the first position if America does not win, as well as the teams that are above the celestial ones.
The direct duel is with León, who is behind them on goal difference, but he has more hope than ever.
Leon (19 points)
The Esmeraldas lost to Pumas and stayed in seventh place with 19 points. With 12 points to play due to a pending match, they can still reach the first four places and be super leaders, but for this last point they depend on the results of América, Atlas, Toluca, Monterrey and Tigres, while they must beat Cruz Azul in direct duel.
The Rojiblancos added a point that left them with 18 points with three games to go. The team led by Marcelo Michel Leaño is in the repechage zone and still has a chance to enter the first four places in the general table, as it can dethrone Toluca, Tigres and Atlas if it wins the three remaining games. The key match will be the direct match against those of San Nicolás de los Garza on matchday 16.
The reality is that the Guadalajara team also missed a key opportunity in this midweek match as they faced the last place in the general table.
The Strip goes from less to more and after surprising the last tournament, it is in the repechage zone with 18 units to be in eighth place. The poblanos have nine points remaining to play and they can still reach second overall if they win all their games and that Atlas does not add more than five points, that Toluca does not score more than six and that Monterrey, Tigres and Cruz Azul and Leon do not add three in the games that remain.
The Potosinos are tenths of the general table with 17 units and a pending game. With 12 points to play, they can still aspire to the second place in the classification, but they also have the risk of being left out of the playoffs if they add three or fewer units and Pachuca, who is 13th place, adds four points or more in four matches.
The Sinaloan team has nine points to play and with 17 units it can aspire to second place overall if those at the top do not add more than six units and they maintain a perfect pace. The key would be the match of the last date against Chivas, who is one of their direct rivals to fight for a place in the playoffs or direct league.
The Warriors, with a pending duel, have 16 points and can reach second place if they win the remaining four games. The key duels are against Toluca this weekend and Atlético San Luis on the last date. In case of falling with the Devils, they only aspire to the third or fourth place depending on the result of Atlas.
The Tuzos fell against Tigres and remained, for the moment, out of the playoffs, but with 12 points to play and 15 units, they can reach the repecha and even the league directly in case Atlas, Toluca and Tigres do not add more than 26 points.
Los Gallos Blancos still have a chance to qualify, as they are 14th with 15 units and 9 points to play. The difference with the 12th place is two units and with the fourth place, which is Toluca, it is seven units, so they could still pass them if the Devils no longer win and the Queretanos add three in all games . In the same way, they would depend on the rest of the teams.
Ricardo Ferretti’s Braves have not had such a good time and are 15th with 15 points. With nine units to play, the playoffs are just two units away and a win would put them in 12th place if Gallos, Pachuca and Santos lose their next duels.
The Rayos reached 14 points with the tie against Toluca on this double date and Pablo Guede’s team is one win from a place in the playoffs if Juárez, Gallos, Pachuca and Santos do not add three in their next game and Cougars either.
Pumas (14 points)
With a pending game, the cats have 12 units to play and despite being the penultimate position of the table, they are still alive. In case of winning their duels against Pachuca and Santos, direct rivals for one place, they would be almost on the other side. Well, they should only hope that Mazatlán, Chivas and San Luis do not add six units in three games.
The frontiers are the last place in the general table and added nine points after the goalless draw with Chivas. With nine points to play, they can still reach the playoffs if they win the three remaining duels and that Necaxa, Juárez, Gallos and Santos do not exceed 16 units.
PENDING MATCHES
Round 3 – Pachuca vs. Atlético de San Luis – It will be played on November 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Matchday 3 – Cruz Azul vs. León – It will be played on November 3 at 9:00 p.m.
Matchday 11 – Pumas vs. Santos – It will be played on November 4 at 8:00 p.m.
THIS IS WHAT THE LEAGUE WOULD BE PLAYED AT THIS MOMENT
CLASSIFIED TO QUARTER FINAL
How would the playoff games be played?
(5) Monterrey vs. Saints (12)
(6) Cruz Azul vs. Mazatlan (eleven)
(7) Leon vs. Athletic of San Luis (10)
(8) Chivas vs. Puebla (9)
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