A total of 18 clubs began the Liga MX 2021 Apertura season with dreams of raising the league trophy in December. But first, it takes getting to the postseason: To do that, teams have to finish among the top 12 in the standings to advance to the postseason, or the liguilla, as it's more popularly known.
What's at stake: There will be plenty of jockeying for positions during the 17-game regular season. That's because finishing in the top four places in the standings gives a team an automatic spot in the quarterfinals. The teams that finish No. 5 through No. 12 have to survive a single-elimination play-in game just to reach the quarters. The No. 13 through No. 18 teams are out of contention.
Why standings matter: Regular season standings also come into play during the playoff quarterfinal and semifinal series, which take place over two legs. The team with the most goals scored across both games advances. But if teams are tied on goals scored at the end of that second leg, the club that finished higher in the regular season standings will advance. That rule disappears for the final, where teams will head to extra time and a penalty kick shootout, if necessary.
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