The 1997–98 Primera División de México (Mexican First Division) was the 56th professional season of Mexico's top-flight football league. The season began on Friday, July 25, 1997, and ended on April 6, 1998. The tournament was broken down into two seasons: Invierno 1997, which Cruz Azul won, and Verano 1998, which Deportivo Toluca won. UANL was promoted to the Mexico Primera División as Pachuca was relegated to the Primera División A.
Overview Teams
TeamCityStadiumAméricaMexico CityAztecaAtlanteMexico CityAztecaAtlasGuadalajara, JaliscoJaliscoAtlético MoreliaMorelia, MichoacánMorelosCelayaCelaya, GuanajuatoMiguel Alemán ValdésCruz AzulMexico CityAzulGuadalajaraGuadalajara, JaliscoJaliscoLeónLeón, GuanajuatoLeónMonterreyMonterrey, Nuevo LeónTecnológicoNecaxaMexico CityAztecaPueblaPuebla, PueblaCuauhtémocSantos LagunaTorreón, CoahuilaCoronaTolucaToluca, State of MexicoNemesio DíezToros NezaNezahualcóyotl, State of MexicoNeza 86UAGZapopan, JaliscoTres de MarzoUANLSan Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo LeónUniversitarioUNAMMexico CityOlímpico UniversitarioVeracruzVeracruz, VeracruzLuis "Pirata" Fuente
Torneo Invierno
"Invierno 1997" began on Friday, July 25, 1997, and ran until October 26 not including the playoffs. In the final Cruz Azul defeated León and became champions for the 8th time.
Final standings (groups)
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
League table
Results
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Only regular season goals listed. Rank Player Club Goals1 Luis GarcíaAtlante122 Carlos HermosilloCruz Azul10 Jesús OlaldeUNAM4 Germán ArangioToros Neza9 Daniel GuzmánAtlas6 Gustavo NápolesGuadalajara87 Jared BorgettiSantos Laguna7 José CardozoToluca ClaudinhoAtlético Morelia Juan Ramón FleitaToros Neza Antonio MohamedToros Neza Sigifredo MercadoLeón Claudio NúñezUANL Carlos PavónNecaxa Ricardo PeláezAmérica
Source: Liga MX
Playoffs Bracket
Quarterfinals
León won 6–4 on aggregate.
América won 4–1 on aggregate.
Cruz Azul won 5–1 on aggregate.
Atlante won 1–0 on aggregate.
Semifinals
Cruz Azul won 2–1 on aggregate.
León won 3–2 on aggregate.
Finals First leg
Cruz Azul: GK 1 Óscar PérezDF 2 Guadalupe Castañeda DF 3 José Luis SixtosDF 4 Juan Reynoso (c)DF 19 Omar RodríguezMF 13 Carlos BarraMF 16 Joaquín Moreno MF 7 Benjamín Galindo MF 10 Héctor AdomaitisFW 11 Julio César Yegros FW 15 Francisco PalenciaSubstitutions:FW 27 Carlos Hermosillo FW 9 Jorge Campos Manager: Luis Fernando TenaLeón: GK 1 Ángel ComizzoDF 19 Sigifredo Mercado DF 3 Edgardo PrátolaDF 58 Carlos Turrubiates (c) DF 2 Ricardo CadenaMF 5 Flavio Davino MF 6 Roberto MedinaMF 11 Alberto GarcíaMF 14 José Antonio Reinoso MF 15 Missael Espinoza FW 17 Hernán MedfordSubstitutions:FW 27 Carlos LópezMF 8 Martín Peña DF 31 David AlbaManager: Carlos Reinoso
Second leg
Cruz Azul won 2–1 on aggregate.
León: GK 1 Ángel ComizzoDF 19 Sigifredo MercadoDF 58 Carlos Turrubiates (c)DF 2 Ricardo Cadena MF 5 Flavio Davino MF 6 Roberto Medina MF 8 Martín Peña MF 14 José Antonio Reinoso MF 15 Missael EspinozaFW 18 Everaldo BeginesFW 17 Hernán MedfordSubstitutions:MF 13 Omar Santacruz FW 7 Dejan Batrović DF 27 Carlos LópezManager: Carlos ReinosoCruz Azul: GK 1 Óscar PérezDF 2 Guadalupe CastañedaDF 3 José Luis SixtosDF 4 Juan Reynoso (c)DF 19 Omar RodríguezMF 13 Carlos BarraMF 16 Joaquín MorenoMF 7 Benjamín Galindo MF 10 Héctor AdomaitisFW 11 Julio César Yegros FW 15 Francisco PalenciaSubstitutions:MF 22 José Agustín Morales MF 17 Eduardo Fuentes FW 27 Carlos Hermosillo Manager: Luis Fernando Tena
Torneo Verano
"Verano 1998" began on Saturday, January 3, 1998, and ran until April 6. In the final Toluca defeated Necaxa and became champions for the fourth time on May 10.
Final standings (groups)
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
League table
Results
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Only regular season goals listed. Rank Player Club Goals1 José CardozoToluca132 ClaudinhoAtlético Morelia11 Carlos HermosilloCruz Azul4 Luis HernándezNecaxa95 Hugo Norberto CastilloAtlas8 Jesús OlaldeUNAM7 Germán ArangioToros Neza7 Cuauhtémoc BlancoNecaxa Ricardo PeláezAmérica Martín Félix UbaldiAtlante
Source: MedioTiempo
Playoffs Repechage
UAG won 5–3 on aggregate.
América won 6–3 on aggregate.
Bracket
Quarterfinals
Toluca won 6–1 on aggregate.
América won 3–2 on aggregate.
Necaxa won 2–1 on aggregate.
Atlas won 5–4 on aggregate.
Semifinals
Toluca won 3–1 on aggregate.
Necaxa won 3–2 on aggregate.
Finals First leg
Necaxa: GK 25 Adolfo RíosDF 2 Salvador Cabrera DF 3 Sergio AlmaguerDF 4 Ricardo Wagner De SouzaDF 5 José Luis Montes de OcaDF 15 Octavio BecerrilDF 19 Eduardo VilchesMF 6 Joaquín del Olmo MF 7 Álex Aguinaga (c)MF 21 Sergio VázquezFW 31 Pedro PinedaSubstitutions:GK 1 Raúl Orvañanos Jr.DF 18 José MiliánDF 20 José HigaredaMF 6 José Manuel de la TorreFW 9 Carlos Pavón FW 11 José Luis MendozaFW 13 Edson Alvarado Manager: Raúl AriasToluca: GK 30 Mario Alberto AlbarránDF 13 Alberto Macías DF 58 Adán NuñezDF 18 David Rangel (c)DF 5 Omar BlancoMF 6 Antonio Taboada MF 7 Víctor RuizMF 10 Fabián EstayMF 27 Enrique Alfaro FW 9 José CardozoFW 23 José Manuel AbundisSubstitutions:GK 1 Martín HerreraDF 2 Eugenio VillazónDF 3 Manuel LópezDF 21 Robert ForbesMF 14 Darko VukićFW 11 Édgar García de DiosFW 15 Eduardo LillingstonManager: Enrique Meza
Second leg
Toluca won 6–4 on aggregate.
Toluca: GK 30 Mario Alberto AlbarránDF 13 Alberto Macías DF 58 Adán NuñezDF 18 David Rangel (c)DF 5 Omar BlancoMF 6 Antonio Taboada MF 7 Víctor RuizMF 10 Fabián EstayMF 27 Enrique AlfaroFW 9 José CardozoFW 23 José Manuel AbundisSubstitutions:GK 1 Martín HerreraDF 2 Eugenio VillazónDF 3 Manuel LópezDF 21 Robert ForbesMF 14 Darko VukićFW 11 Édgar García de DiosFW 15 Eduardo LillingstonManager: Enrique MezaNecaxa: GK 25 Adolfo RíosDF 2 Salvador Cabrera DF 3 Sergio AlmaguerDF 4 Ricardo Wagner De SouzaDF 5 José Luis Montes de OcaDF 15 Octavio BecerrilDF 19 Eduardo VilchesMF 6 Joaquín del OlmoMF 7 Álex Aguinaga (c)MF 21 Sergio VázquezFW 31 Pedro PinedaSubstitutions:GK 16 José GuadarramaDF 18 José MiliánDF 20 José HigaredaMF 6 José Manuel de la Torre FW 9 Carlos Pavón FW 11 José Luis MendozaFW 13 Edson Alvarado Manager: Raúl Arias
Relegation table Pos. Team Pts. Pld. Ave. 14 UANL 41 34 1.2058 15 Atlético Morelia 122 102 1.1961 16 Celaya 116 102 1.1372 17 Puebla 116 102 1.1372 18 Veracruz 113 102 1.1078
External links Mediotiempo.com (where information was obtained)