May be not the most comprehensive formula, but at least a stable one. After the group stage one thing was clear: Union de Curtidores had the least points and was relegated. The club was the weakest in the league by far – no other club was even remotely in danger of relegation this season. But not very strong were many.
Leon finished 5th – last – in Group 4 with 32 points.
Oaxtepec – 4th in Group 4 with 33 points.
Puebla – 5th in Group 3 with 34 points.
Atletico Morelia – 4th in Group 3 with 39 points.
Tampico-Madero – 3rd in Group 3 with 41 points.
Toluca – 4th in Group 2 with 38 points.
America was the best team in the first phase with 51 points. The unlucky one was Tampico-Madero – they missed the play-offs with 41 points. More points than two teams, which qualified with 40 points and equal with the winners of Group 4. But they were grouped with stronger teams and finished 3rd in Group 3.
In the quarterfinals
Monterrey lost to America 1-1 and 0-1.
UANL was eliminated by UNAM 1-0 and 0-3.
UAG lost to local rivals CD Guadalajara after dramatic battle – 1-0, 0-1, overtime, and, finally – 8-9 penalty shoot-out.
Similar was the Mexico City derby between Atlante and Cruz Azul:
Atlante won ‘away’ 2-1, then lost at home with the same result, extra-time changed nothing and at last Atlante lost the penalty shoot-out 2-4.
In the semifinals played 3 teams form the capital and 1 from Guadalajara.
Cruz Azul lost to America 0-2 and 0-0.
UNAM also lost, but dramatically – after the opponents exchanged home wins by 2-1, UNAM was unlucky in the penalty shoot-out 3-5.
Thus the final was not only between Mexico City and Guadalajara, but also between the historic bitter rivals and most popular clubs in the country – America and CD Guadalajara. The first leg was played in Guadalajara and ended 2-2. Back at home, America won the second leg 3-1 and the Mexican title was theirs.
CD Guadalajara lost the final and the title after a strong season, but a close look objectively favoured their rivals – Chivas, as the club is perhaps better known, was 2nd in their original group and were Mexican league ‘normal’, they would have been 4th at the final standings. After that, they reached the final after extracting penalty shoot-out victories in both ¼ and ½ finals. Lastly, they were unable to win their home leg at the final. Small differences, but not in their favour.
America triumphed after having splendid season. They won their 8th title – 4 in the amateur era, and 4 in the professional. It was also their first win after 1975-76, quite a long wait for the most popular club in the country. There was more to the victory, especially when time passed – Los Aguilas (the Eagles) lost the semi-final against their arch-rivals the previous season, so it was wonderful revenge. Historically, it was more than winning ‘El Super Clasico’ – the old enemies never met at the final before. And they never met again so far – so this final was eventually dubbed Final del Siglo (the final of the century). America was unquestionably the strongest team in the country this season, a testimony of the great work of their Chilean coach Carlos Reynoso. The squad was good too, helped by three Argentinians – Hector Miguel Zelada, Daniel Brailovsky, and Gustavo Echaniz.