The Apertura 2018 Liga MX championship stage commonly known as Liguilla (mini league) was played from 28 November 2018 to 16 December 2018. A total of eight teams competed in the championship stage to decide the champions of the Apertura 2018 Liga MX season. Both finalists qualified to the 2020 CONCACAF Champions League.
Qualified teams The following 8 teams qualified for the championship stage.
In the following table, the number of appearances, last appearance, and previous best result count only those in the short tournament era starting from Invierno 1996 (not counting those in the long tournament era from 1943–44 to 1995–96).
TeamSeedPointsAppearanceLast appearancePrevious bestRef.Cruz Azul13628thApertura 2017ChampionsAmérica23331stClausura 2018ChampionsPumas330 (+10)22ndChampionsSantos Laguna430 (+9)29thChampionsMonterrey530 (+6)21stChampionsUANL62923rdChampionsToluca726 (+5)32ndChampionsQuerétaro826 (–1)10thClausura 2015Runners-up
Format 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.
Bracket
Quarter-finals
All times are UTC−5
First leg
Second leg
Cruz Azul won 3–1 on aggregate.
Monterrey won 3–0 on aggregate.
Pumas won 4–3 on aggregate.
América won 5–4 on aggregate.
Semi-finals
All times are UTC−5
First leg
Second leg
1–1 on aggregate and tied on away goals. Cruz Azul advanced for being the higher seed in the classification table.
América won 7–2 on aggregate.
Finals
First leg
Details
GK 1 Agustín MarchesínDF 3 Jorge SánchezDF 19 Emanuel Aguilera DF 18 Bruno ValdezDF 22 Paul Aguilar (c)MF 14 Joe CoronaMF 5 Guido RodríguezMF 20 Diego Lainez MF 8 Mateus Uribe MF 30 Renato Ibarra FW 9 Roger Martínez Substitutions:GK 27 Óscar JiménezDF 4 Edson ÁlvarezDF 12 Luis ReyesMF 10 Cecilio Domínguez MF 11 Andrés Ibargüen FW 21 Henry MartínFW 24 Oribe Peralta Manager: Miguel Herrera GK 1 José de Jesús Corona (c) DF 16 Adrián AldreteDF 5 Igor Lichnovsky DF 2 Pablo AguilarDF 4 Julio César Domínguez MF 23 Iván MarconeMF 8 Javier SalasMF 11 Elías Hernández MF 25 Roberto AlvaradoMF 17 Édgar Méndez FW 9 Milton Caraglio Substitutions:GK 12 Guillermo AllisonDF 27 José MadueñaDF 30 Jordan SilvaMF 13 Ángel MenaMF 22 Rafael Baca FW 7 Martín Cauteruccio FW 18 Andrés RenteríaManager: Pedro Caixinha
Assistant referees: Marvin Torrentera (Mexico City) Alberto Morin Méndez (Chihuahua) Fourth official: Luis Enrique Santander (Guanajuato) Video assistant referee: Miguel Ángel Chacón (Guerrero) Assistant video assistant referee: Quetzalli Alvarado (Mexico City)
Statistics StatisticAméricaCruz AzulGoals scored00Total shots87Shots on target21Saves12Ball possession52%48%Corner kicks22Fouls committed1514Offsides13Yellow cards33Red cards00
Second leg
América won 2–0 on aggregate.
Details
GK 1 José de Jesús Corona (c) DF 16 Adrián AldreteDF 5 Igor Lichnovsky DF 2 Pablo AguilarDF 4 Julio César Domínguez MF 11 Elías HernándezMF 8 Javier SalasMF 23 Iván MarconeMF 17 Édgar Méndez FW 7 Martín Cauteruccio FW 9 Milton Caraglio Substitutions:GK 12 Guillermo AllisonDF 15 Gerardo FloresDF 27 José MadueñaMF 13 Ángel MenaMF 22 Rafael Baca MF 25 Roberto AlvaradoFW 18 Andrés RenteríaManager: Pedro Caixinha GK 1 Agustín MarchesínDF 3 Jorge Sánchez DF 19 Emanuel Aguilera DF 18 Bruno ValdezDF 22 Paul Aguilar MF 20 Diego Lainez MF 4 Edson ÁlvarezMF 5 Guido RodríguezMF 30 Renato Ibarra FW 24 Oribe Peralta (c)FW 21 Henry MartínSubstitutions:GK 27 Óscar JiménezDF 12 Luis ReyesMF 10 Cecilio Domínguez MF 11 Andrés Ibargüen MF 14 Joe CoronaFW 17 Cristian Insaurralde FW 23 Antonio López Manager: Miguel Herrera
Assistant referees: José Luis Camargo (Estado de México) Marcos Quintero (Jalisco) Fourth official: Jorge Isaac Rojas (Mexico City) Video assistant referee: Ángel Monroy (Morelos)
Statistics StatisticCruz AzulAméricaGoals scored02Total shots512Shots on target09Saves70Ball possession55%45%Corner kicks03Fouls committed1121Offsides10Yellow cards24Red cards10
Statistics Goalscorers 3 goals Bruno Valdez (América)
2 goals Emanuel Aguilera (América) Edson Álvarez (América) Carlos González (Pumas) Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey) Diego Lainez (América) Roger Martínez (América) Felipe Mora (Pumas)
1 goal Pablo Aguilar (Cruz Azul) Paul Aguilar (América) Matías Alustiza (Pumas) Javier Aquino (UANL) Milton Caraglio (Cruz Azul) William (Toluca) Jesús Dueñas (UANL) Elías Hernández (Cruz Azul) Renato Ibarra (América) Édgar Méndez (Cruz Azul) Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey) Guido Rodríguez (América) Martín Rodríguez (Pumas) Luis Romo (Querétaro) Rubens Sambueza (Toluca) Nicolás Sánchez (Monterrey) Fernando Tobio (Toluca) Alexis Vega (Toluca)
Own goal Alfredo Saldívar (for UANL)
Assists 4 assists Mateus Uribe (América)
2 assists Adrián Aldrete (Cruz Azul) Renato Ibarra (América) Víctor Malcorra (Pumas) Oribe Peralta (América) Carlos Rodríguez (Monterrey)
1 assist Paul Aguilar (América) Javier Aquino (UANL) Pablo Barrera (Pumas) Cecilio Domínguez (América) Carlos González (Pumas) Avilés Hurtado (Monterrey) Édgar Méndez (Cruz Azul) Alan Mozo (Pumas) Dorlan Pabón (Monterrey) Guido Pizarro (UANL) Rubens Sambueza (Toluca) Jorge Sánchez (América) Enrique Triverio (Toluca)
Notes
References