Clausura MX 2025: Quarterfinals Preview

After the Play-In was completed and the final two teams qualified, the Clausura MX playoffs will start this week with some great matchups.

The most interesting duel will feature the top seed, Toluca, facing Monterrey, who come from the Play-In.

Another big and evenly matched clash will have América visiting Pachuca, while León and Cruz Azul will square off.

Necaxa was the biggest surprise among the qualified teams and will host Tigres, a team not currently at its best.

Clausura MX Quarterfinals First Leg: Monterrey x Toluca

Monterrey struggled but managed to secure a spot in the playoffs. Despite having one of the best squads, the team finished seventh and had to go through the Play-In, where they lost their first match at home against Pachuca (1-2). They got a second chance and made the most of it, defeating Pumas 2-0. The good news for Martín Demichelis is that he has recovered Sergio Canales and Óliver Torres, although Sergio Ramos is still unavailable. The Argentine coach was sent off and will not be on the sidelines this Wednesday.

Toluca finished first in the tournament with 37 points, guaranteeing home-field and draw advantage in all series. They come into the playoffs unbeaten in their last seven matches, with six wins and one draw in their previous game. While it’s positive that they are well-rested—their last official game was on April 19— the lack of match rhythm could be a disadvantage. Toluca is the highest-scoring team (41 goals), with Paulinho as the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals and Alexis Vega leading in assists with eight.

Monterrey vs. Toluca Betting Pick: Draw

Clausura MX Quarterfinals First Leg: Pachuca x América

Pachuca was the other team that secured a playoff spot through the Play-In, quickly earning it by defeating Monterrey 2-1 on the road. Salomón Rondón and John Kennedy have formed a great partnership, with the former scoring 10 goals and the latter nine. However, the Brazilian has not been as consistent and hasn’t performed as expected in recent matches.

América qualified as second in the overall standings and boasts the best defense of the tournament, conceding just 10 goals in 17 games. They closed out the first phase with a commanding 5-0 win over Mazatlán, but like other teams, it has been nearly three weeks since their last official match. A few days ago, they played a friendly against Celaya, and the good news was that Henry Martín could get some minutes.

Pachuca vs. América Betting Pick: América

Clausura MX Quarterfinals First Leg: Necaxa x Tigres

Necaxa was one of the big surprises of the tournament, finishing in fifth place and qualifying directly for the playoffs. With 36 goals, they have the second-best attack in the tournament; however, their defense struggled, conceding 29 goals—the worst mark among the Liga MX top 12 teams. The attacking trio of José Paradela, Agustín Palavecino, and Diber Cambindo is formidable, especially now that the Colombian is fully recovered and is likely to return to the starting lineup.

Tigres, on the other hand, are coming off a tough blow in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, losing to Cruz Azul in the semifinals by a 2-1 aggregate score. Now, they must focus on the domestic tournament, where they have two home wins and two away draws in their last four games. Earlier this season, they visited the ‘Rayos’ and won 2-1.

Necaxa vs. Tigres Betting Pick: Necaxa

Clausura MX Quarterfinals First Leg: Leão x Cruz Azul

León is focused on the league playoffs while awaiting FIFA’s decision to see whether or not they will play in the Club World Cup. With that uncertainty hanging over them, coach Eduardo Berizzo is preparing for the match. After a strong start that saw them go unbeaten, they lost five of their last seven games and earned only four points. Nicolás Fonseca will return, but they will be without James Rodríguez, who is suspended.

Cruz Azul, meanwhile, is determined to chase the title that slipped away from them last tournament. They didn’t start the season very well but have significantly raised their level. Right now, they ride a 16-game unbeaten streak across all competitions, including the CONCACAF Champions Cup, where they have reached the final. They have only lost two matches this semester, away from home and by the narrowest margins. The bad news is that Gabriel Fernández has suffered another injury.

Palpite de Apostas León vs. Cruz Azul: Cruz Azul