The 2018–19 Liga MX season (known as the Liga BBVA Bancomer MX for sponsorship reasons) was the 72nd professional season of the top-flight football league in Mexico. The season was split into two championships—the Torneo Apertura and the Torneo Clausura—each in an identical format and each contested by the same eighteen teams.
Clubs The following eighteen teams competed this season. Lobos BUAP was initially relegated to the Ascenso MX after accumulating the lowest point coefficient last season, but instead they will continue to compete in the Liga MX after the 2017–18 Ascenso MX champion, Cafetaleros de Tapachula, who won promotion after defeating Alebrijes de Oaxaca, was not certified to be promoted. Lobos BUAP paid MXN$120 million to be disbursed to Cafetaleros de Tapachula and remain in Liga MX.
Stadiums and locations América & Cruz Azul Atlas BUAP Guadalajara León Monterrey Estadio Azteca Estadio Jalisco Estadio Universitario BUAP Estadio Akron Estadio León Estadio BBVA Bancomer Capacity: 87,000 Capacity: 55,110 Capacity: 19,283 Capacity: 45,364 Capacity: 31,297 Capacity: 53,500 Morelia Necaxa Pachuca Puebla Querétaro Santos Laguna Estadio Morelos Estadio Victoria Estadio Hidalgo Estadio Cuauhtémoc Estadio Corregidora Estadio Corona Capacity: 34,795 Capacity: 23,851 Capacity: 27,512 Capacity: 51,726 Capacity: 33,162 Capacity: 29,237 Tijuana Toluca UANL UNAM Veracruz Estadio Caliente Estadio Nemesio Díez Estadio Universitario Estadio Olímpico Universitario Estadio Luis "Pirata" Fuente Capacity: 27,333 Capacity: 31,000 Capacity: 41,886 Capacity: 48,297 Capacity: 28,703
Personnel and kits Team Chairman Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor(s)América Santiago Baños Miguel Herrera Oribe Peralta Nike AT&TAtlas Gustavo Guzmán Leandro Cufré Juan Pablo Vigón Adidas LinioBUAP Juan Carlos Bozikián Francisco Palencia Francisco Javier Rodríguez Pirma Vía San ÁngelCruz Azul Guillermo Álvarez Cuevas Pedro Caixinha José de Jesús Corona Under Armour / Joma Cemento Cruz AzulGuadalajara Jorge Vergara Tomás Boy Jair Pereira PumaNoneLeón Jesús Martínez Murguia Ignacio Ambriz Mauro Boselli Pirma Cementos FortalezaMonterrey Duilio Davino Diego Alonso José María Basanta Puma AT&TMorelia Álvaro Dávila Javier Torrente Gabriel Achilier Pirma CalienteNecaxa Ernesto Tinajero Flores Guillermo Vázquez Ventura Alvarado Charly RolcarPachuca Jesús Martínez Patiño Martín Palermo Jorge Hernández Charly Cementos FortalezaPuebla Manuel Jiménez García José Luis Sánchez Solá José Daniel Guerrero Li-Ning AT&TQuerétaro Jaime Ordiales Víctor Manuel Vucetich Miguel Martínez Puma Banco MultivaSantos Laguna Alejandro Irarragorri Guillermo Almada José Abella Charly SorianaTijuana Jorge Hank Inzunsa Óscar Pareja Juan Carlos Valenzuela Charly CalienteToluca Francisco Suinaga Ricardo La Volpe Antonio Ríos Under Armour CitibanamexTigres Miguel Ángel Garza Ricardo Ferretti Juninho Adidas CemexUNAM Rodrigo Ares de Parga Bruno Marioni Pablo Barrera Nike DHLVeracruz Fidel Kuri Mustieles Robert Siboldi Pedro Gallese Charly Winpot Casino
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table Ref.Pre-Apertura changesPachuca Diego AlonsoEnd of contractMay 4, 2018 Pako AyestaránJune 11, 2018PreseasonQuerétaro Luis Fernando TenaMutual agreementMay 6, 2018 Rafael Puente Jr.May 7, 2018Monterrey Antonio MohamedMutual agreementMay 7, 2018 Diego AlonsoMay 18, 2018Necaxa Ignacio AmbrízMutual agreementMay 8, 2018 Marcelo Michel LeañoMay 11, 2018Lobos BUAP Daniel Alcántar (interim)End of tenure as caretakerMay 31, 2018 Francisco PalenciaJune 1, 2018Guadalajara Matías AlmeydaResignedJune 11, 2018 José CardozoJune 12, 2018Apertura changesSantos Laguna Robert SiboldiResignedAugust 8, 2018 Salvador ReyesAugust 8, 20186thVeracruz Guillermo VázquezResignedAugust 14, 2018 Hugo Chávez (interim)August 14, 201813thVeracruz Hugo Chávez (interim)End of tenure as caretaker Juvenal OlmosAugust 15, 201813thAtlas Gerardo EspinozaSackedSeptember 3, 2018 Ángel Guillermo HoyosSeptember 11, 201818thLeón Gustavo DíazSackedSeptember 17, 2018 Ignacio AmbrizSeptember 18, 201815thNecaxa Marcelo Michel LeañoSackedOctober 21, 2018 Jorge Martínez Merino (interim)October 23, 201815thVeracruz Juvenal OlmosSackedOctober 27, 2018 Hugo Chávez (interim)October 27, 201818thTijuana Diego CoccaMutual agreementOctober 30, 2018 Frankie Oviedo (interim)October 31, 201814thPre-Clausura changesTijuana Frankie Oviedo (interim)End of tenure as caretakerNovember 27, 2018 Óscar ParejaNovember 27, 2018PreseasonNecaxa Jorge Martínez Merino (interim)End of tenure as caretakerNovember 29, 2018 Guillermo VázquezNovember 29, 2018Veracruz Hugo Chávez (interim)End of tenure as caretakerDecember 5, 2018 Robert SiboldiDecember 5, 2018Clausura changesPachuca Pako AyestaránSackedJanuary 19, 2019 Martín PalermoJanuary 21, 201912thUNAM David PatiñoSackedJanuary 27, 2019 Bruno MarioniJanuary 27, 201916thPuebla Enrique MezaSackedFebruary 3, 2019 José Luis Sánchez SoláFebruary 6, 201914thQuerétaro Rafael Puente Jr.SackedFebruary 17, 2019 Víctor Manuel VucetichFebruary 18, 201918thMorelia Roberto HernándezSackedFebruary 24, 2019 Gastón Obledo (interim)February 24, 201916thToluca Hernán CristanteSackedFebruary 25, 2019 José Luis Real (interim)February 25, 201915thMorelia Gastón Obledo (interim)End of tenure as caretaker Javier TorrenteFebruary 28, 201916thToluca José Luis Real (interim)End of tenure as caretakerMarch 4, 2019 Ricardo La VolpeMarch 4, 201914thAtlas Guillermo HoyosSackedMarch 9, 2019 Leandro CufréMarch 11, 201915thGuadalajara José CardozoSackedMarch 31, 2019 Alberto Coyote (interim)April 1, 201911thSantos Laguna Salvador ReyesSackedApril 4, 2019 Rubén Duarte (interim)April 4, 201912thGuadalajara Alberto Coyote (interim)End of tenure as caretakerApril 9, 2019 Tomás BoyApril 9, 201914thSantos Laguna Rubén Duarte (interim)End of tenure as caretakerApril 11, 2019 Guillermo AlmadaApril 11, 201912thVeracruz Robert Siboldi ResignedApril 15, 2019 José Luis González ChinaApril 15, 201918th
Torneo Apertura The Apertura 2018 was the first championship of the season. The regular season began on 20 July 2018 and ended on 25 November 2018. The defending champions were Santos Laguna, having won their sixth title.
Regular phase League table
Positions by round The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches were not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match was scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it was added to the standings for day 16.
Results
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Rank Player Club Goals 1 André-Pierre GignacUANL142 Julio FurchSantos Laguna123 Víctor GuzmánPachuca9 Franco JaraPachuca Jonathan RodríguezSantos Laguna6 Leonardo RamosBUAP8 Camilo SanvezzoQuerétaro8 Carlos GonzálezUNAM7 Felipe MoraUNAM10 Mauro BoselliLeón6 Lucas CavalliniPuebla Víctor DávilaNecaxa Cristian MenéndezVeracruz Nicolás SánchezMonterrey Eduardo VargasUANL Ángel ZaldívarGuadalajara
Source: Liga MX
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Carlos GonzálezUNAMUANL3–321 October 2018 Víctor Guzmán4PachucaNecaxa6–23 November 2018 André-Pierre Gignac4UANLPuebla6–110 November 2018
4 Player scored four goals
Attendance
Highest and lowest Highest attendance Lowest attendanceWeek Home Score Away Attendance Home Score Away Attendance1 Cruz Azul 3–0 Puebla 45,385 Necaxa 2–1 América 16,4502 UANL 1–0 Tijuana 41,052 BUAP 2–0 Veracruz 5,8453 Cruz Azul 1–0 UANL 55,571 Veracruz 2–2 Morelia 7,5234 UANL 1–2 Toluca 41,379 BUAP 0–0Atlas 7,3465 Monterrey 1–0 UNAM 40,268 Necaxa 2–2 Puebla 8,3896 UANL 4–0Veracruz 40,874 BUAP 1–2 Monterrey 7,8367 Monterrey 2–2 Morelia 40,129 Veracruz 1–0 Tijuana 7,6938 UANL 3–1 Atlas 41,363 Puebla 2–1 Monterrey 9,5509 Monterrey 2–4 Guadalajara 37,812 Veracruz 2–3 Toluca 8,89710 UANL 0–0 Monterrey 41,615 Toluca 3–2 Necaxa 15,70511 América 1–1 Guadalajara 69,486 Veracruz 0–4 León 7,71112 UANL 2–3 América 41,596 Veracruz 0–0 Necaxa 7,58913 Monterrey 2–1 Toluca 29,444 Necaxa 0–2 León 10,04914 Cruz Azul 0–0 América 62,003 Veracruz 2–3 Pachuca 8,68415 UNAM 1–2 Cruz Azul 42,717 BUAP 3–1 Tijuana 6,22316 UANL 6–1 Puebla 38,141 Necaxa 1–1 Monterrey 11,53417 Monterrey 3–1 Atlas 31,758 Puebla 0–0 Tijuana 6,628
Source: Liga MX
Final phase
Bracket
Teams were re-seeded each round. Team with more goals on aggregate after two matches advanced. Away goals rule was applied in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but not the final. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, if the two teams were tied on aggregate and away goals, the higher seeded team advanced. In the final, if the two teams were tied after both legs, the match went to extra time and, if necessary, a shoot-out. Both finalists qualified to the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League (champions as MEX1, runners-up as MEX3).
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Finals
Torneo Clausura The Clausura 2019 was the second championship of the season. The tournament began on 4 January 2019 ended on 26 May 2019. América were the defending champions, having won their record-breaking 13th league title the previous tournament.
Regular phase League table
Positions by round The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches were not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match was scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it was added to the standings for day 16.
Results
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Rank Player Club Goals1 Ángel MenaLeón142 Brian FernándezNecaxa123 Milton CaraglioCruz Azul11 Rogelio Funes MoriMonterrey5 Gustavo BouTijuana8 José Juan MacíasLeón Leonardo RamosBUAP8 Miller BolañosTijuana7 André-Pierre GignacUANL Franco JaraPachuca
Source: Liga MX
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Enrique TriverioTolucaMorelia3–14 January 2019 Alexis VegaGuadalajaraAtlas3–016 February 2019 Leonardo UlloaPachucaVeracruz9–213 April 2019 Rogelio Funes MoriMonterreySantos Laguna4–014 April 2019
Attendance
Per team
Highest and lowest Highest attendance Lowest attendanceWeek Home Score Away Attendance Home Score Away Attendance1 Monterrey 5–0 Pachuca 39,853 BUAP 2–0 Santos Laguna 6,3502 Atlas 1–2 América 46,056 Veracruz 0–1 BUAP 10,7123 UANL 0–1 Cruz Azul 41,615 BUAP 2–3 Necaxa 8,3164 Monterrey 3–2 América 46,292 Cruz Azul 1–0 Tijuana 10,3115 UANL 2–1 Santos Laguna 41,431 BUAP 1–1 Pachuca 6,8506 Monterrey 4–0 BUAP 39,364 Veracruz 0–2 UANL 13,1287 UNAM 1–0 América 42,600 BUAP 3–1 Querétaro 6,4108 Monterrey 0–0 Puebla 43,219 Querétaro 3–0 Morelia 12,7099 UANL 3–0 Pachuca 41,605 BUAP 2–1 UNAM 9,75310 Monterrey 1–1 UANL 51,027 BUAP 0–1 León 7,14811 UANL 4–1 Querétaro 41,137 Morelia 1–1 BUAP 15,02112 Monterrey 2–2 Cruz Azul 41,771 Querétaro 1–0Tijuana 9,65513 UANL 2–0 UNAM 41,527 Veracruz 0–1Atlas 7,74414 América 0–0 Cruz Azul 47,407 BUAP 0–3 UANL11,94315 UANL 3–3 Morelia 40,136 Veracruz 0–1 Monterrey 15,40016 Monterrey 2–2 Necaxa 38,371 BUAP 1–4 Cruz Azul 14,27517 UANL 2–1 Guadalajara 41,221 Necaxa 1–0 Querétaro 15,866
Source: Liga MX
Final phase
Bracket
Teams were re-seeded each round. Team with more goals on aggregate after two matches advanced. Away goals rule was applied in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but not the final. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, if the two teams were tied on aggregate and away goals, the higher seeded team advanced. In the final, if the two teams were tied after both legs, the match went to extra time and, if necessary, a shoot-out.