The 2021 Liga MX Apertura season will run through Nov. 7. The top 12 teams will qualify for the Liga MX playoffs, also known as the liguilla.
Cruz Azul is the defending champion and the favorite entering the new season with most of the squad returning. The other contenders include big-spending teams Club America, CF Monterrey and Tigres UANL. High-profile clubs such as Mexico City-based Pumas UNAM and Guadalajara's Chivas will hope to join that group with a strong end to the season, as will clubs that always find themselves in the playoff mix: Toluca, Leon, Pachuca and Santos Laguna.
A surprise team or two should emerge as well. Puebla and Atlas are hoping they can build on solid campaigns last season and reach the final. Among the long shots, all eyes will be on FC Juarez, which began a new era under new head coach Ricardo "Tuca” Ferretti, who previously transformed Tigres into a perennial power.
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