Known today as Liga MX (often referred to as Liga BBVA MX for sponsorship purposes), the league consists of 18 clubs which play split seasons called the Apertura (July to December) and Clausura (January to May). Both consist of 17 regular season matches that are followed by a playoff format which crowns an Apertura and Clausura champion.

The split season format has been in effect since 1996-97, and playoffs have been utilized since 1970-71. Before that, a traditional single-table league season was employed when the league turned professional in 1943-44.

The 2021-22 campaign saw Atlas of Guadalajara hoist both the Apertura and Clausura titles with their defend-and-counter playing style under Argentine manager Diego Cocca proving especially effective during the playoffs. Atlas were also one of the top performers during the regular season, finishing in 2nd and 3rd place in the Apertura 2021 and Clausura 2022.

Club America and Pachuca were the leaders of the half-season tables, and Tigres UANL had the best combined points total across both Apertura and Clausura seasons, but all three clubs fell short in the playoffs.

The Sporting News brings you a full overview of the 2021-22 Liga MX season as well as a historical perspective on the recent league history.

Who is the Mexican champion in Liga MX?

The two-time defending Liga MX champion is Atlas, which hails from the city of Guadalajara. Los Zorros, as they’re nicknamed, ended a 70-year title drought when they won the 2021 Apertura, and then followed that up with a repeat performance in the 2022 Clausura. The back-to-back titles have many calling it the best Atlas team in the club’s long history.

It’s a squad built by Cocca which features a group of international stars alongside a handful of homegrown talent, and the combination has brought unprecedented success to the club. The rock-solid team structure devised by Cocca has made them hard to beat, and in turn, they rarely beat themselves with mistakes.

Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas is the undisputed starter behind Anderson Santamaria (Peru), Hugo Nervo (Argentina) and Ema Aguilera (Argentina), who eat up many of the minutes on the back line. Ecuadorean left (wing)back Anibal Chala has also proven to be a difference-maker as a two-way player.

Mexican club captain Aldo Rocha sets the tone with his fight and work rate in midfield, regularly supported by Atlas academy products Edgar Zaldivar, Jeremy Marquez, Luis Reyes, and Diego Barbosa. The latter two are wingbacks, who have operated plenty in the middle of the field.

The goals have typically been the purview of Colombian loanee forward Julian Quinones (11 goals) or talismanic Argentine striker Julio Furch (10 goals).

After getting past Monterrey (quarterfinals), Pumas (semifinals) and Leon (final) to win the Apertura 2021 title, Atlas took care of eternal rivals Chivas (quarterfinals), Tigres UANL (semifinals) and Pachuca (final) on the road to its latest championship. Pachuca and Tigres also happened to be the top two seeds during the Clausura regular season.

2022 Clausura

The 2022 Clausura regular season was topped by Pachuca, whose 38 points were good enough to finish clear of second-placed UNAL Tigres.

The top four finishers in the regular season are shown below.

The top four seeds met the four teams which emerged from the single-elimination play-in round. Here’s how the quarterfinals unfolded:

Quarterfinals — 1st Leg

Quarterfinals — 2nd Leg

Semifinals — 1st Leg

Semifinals — 2nd Leg

Final — 1st Leg

Final — 2nd Leg

Mexican league champions all-time

The current half-season format has been in place since 1996, when the league decided to split the campaign into two shorter 17-game seasons known as the Apertura and Clausura.

A single regular season points table decided the title up until 1970-71, when playoffs were introduced.