New to Liga MX? Here’s an overview
Photo credit: Los Ruidos Del Deporte
Are you intrigued by the Liga MX but haven’t gotten around to following it closely yet? We’ve got you covered. The league features a breathtaking style of play, while its television ratings and average attendance figures regularly dwarf those of MLS.
WHAT IS LIGA MX?
The Liga MX is the Mexican first division tournament. Eighteen teams comprise the league and it follows the FIFA calendar from July to May. Even so, it has two tournaments per year: the Apertura, which goes from July to December, and the Clausura from January to May.
Every tournament has 17 weeks and the best eight teams qualify for the Liguilla, the playoff season. The winner of the Liguilla is the champion of the tournament.
At the end of the two tournaments, one team is relegated to the Asenso MX, the Division II championship, while the best team from the Asenso MX ascends to the Liga MX.
According to the finance website HowMuch.net, the Liga MX is the second-richest soccer league in North and South America after the Brazilian league, the Brasileirao. The most popular teams are America, Chivas, Cruz Azul and Pumas. The tournament has been dominated by Tigres, the most valuable squad in North and South America per Transfermarkt.
But behind popularity, there is good football and an even better atmosphere.
WHICH TEAMS ARE WORTH WATCHING?
Tigres and Monterrey have been the most prominent squads of the last decade, and both are from the same city. They are the teams that spend more money on their rosters and have the most solid projects. Monterrey and Tigres also show an offensive and joyful way to play; you’ll never get bored if these two teams are playing. It’s pure entertainment and very good soccer to witness.
Club America belongs to Televisa and plays in the Estadio Azteca. It is the second most popular team in the league and one of the few teams that can compete with the hierarchy of Tigres and Monterrey. America is a team that fans generally love or hate, with a broad and solid squad that makes it a regular contender for the title.
Cruz Azul is another team from Mexico City, famous because of all the multiple finals lost in the last 15 years. Cruz Azul hasn’t achieved a league title since 1997, although it is a very competitive squad. Cement company Cementos Cruz Azul owns the club. The team wears a blue uniforms and plays at the Estadio Azul.
Forbes Mexico lists CD Guadalajara, commonly known as Chivas, as the most valuable soccer organization in Mexico and fourth-most valuable in North and South America. Chivas is a team that believes in youth, plays in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and is biggest rivals with America. Guadalajara is the only club in Mexico that always has a roster full of Mexicans. It is the team’s philosophy.
Another contender to the title is Club Leon, Landon Donovan’s new team. It is a fast team led by the most effective striker in the league, Mauro Boselli. Club Leon is a magnet for goals. Last year, the Esmeraldas were the third-best offense in the tournament behind mighty Tigres and Monterrey. Games with Club Leon are entertaining because they concede and score.
We cannot forget the teams that have stable projects and a vast inversion behind them. Tijuana, Santos and Queretaro are so-called underdogs, but these three teams have broad rosters to surprise anyone. These three squads have big chances to be part of the playoffs because they have a solid team structure, good managers and offensive variations.
In case curiosity drags you to watch a new league, you should look for the Liga MX, a soccer championship that won’t disappoint.
Follow Luis on Twitter: @LFulloa.
Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.
