The 2018–19 Ascenso MX season is a two-part competition: Apertura 2018 and Clausura 2019. Ascenso MX is the second-tier football league of Mexico. Apertura began on 20 July 2018, and Clausura began on 4 January 2019.
Changes from the previous season Nine teams met the requirements to be promoted to the Liga MX for the 2019–2020 season: Atlético San Luis, Juárez, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tampico Madero, UdeG, Zacatecas, and Zacatepec. Atlante and Celaya lost their right to be promoted from the previous season.
The relegated team of the Clausura 2019 Liga MX season had the option of paying MXN$120 million to remain in Liga MX. Of that amount, MXN$60 million would go to the Ascenso MX team that is not certified to be promoted and MXN$60 million would go to new projects determined by the Liga MX assembly. If the team that had normally relegated to the tier below did then the MXN$120 million remained in Liga MX, the team's right to be the 18th team of Liga MX will be seceded to Liga MX and the MXN$120 million must be paid by the other 17 teams of Liga MX. The vacant position in Liga MX could then be occupied by a certified Ascenso MX team or an external sport project. If the position is not occupied, Liga MX reserves all rights to do as deemed fit with it for the 2019–20 Liga MX season.
Teams in the Liga Premier de México must be certified to be promoted to Ascenso MX. If a promoted team is not certified for Ascenso MX, the relegated Ascenso MX team is required to pay MXN$15 million, of which MXN$5 million are given to the team that is not certified, and MXN$10 million are for development projects of Ascenso MX.
Team squads are limited to 12 players not developed in Mexico. A maximum of nine of those players may be in the match-day squad.
Teams are required to give youth players playing time. For the Apertura 2018 season, teams must accumulate 675 minutes with players born on or after 1997. For the Clausura 2019 season, teams must accumulate 882 minutes with players born in 1998.
The away goals rule is no longer a tiebreaker for the liguilla.
15 clubs will participate in this season: Lobos BUAP were relegated from Liga MX, but paid the required MXN$120 million to remain in Liga MX. Tapachula won the 2017–18 Promotion Final, but were not certified to be promoted prior to the beginning of the season. They received the payment from Lobos BUAP and remain in Ascenso MX. Murciélagos were relegated to the Liga Premier de México. Tepatitlán won the Liga Premier de México promotion final, but was not certified to be promoted. The right to promotion was initially seceded to the runner-up, Loros UdeC. Loros UdeC was not certified to compete in the category, therefore, only 15 teams will participate in the Ascenso MX season. Tlaxcala lost their spot in Ascenso MX as renovations to the Estadio Tlahuicole were not completed on time.
Stadiums and Locations Club City Stadium CapacityAtlante Cancún, Quintana Roo Andrés Quintana Roo 17,289Atlético San Luis San Luis Potosí City, San Luis Potosí Alfonso Lastras 25,111Celaya Celaya, Guanajuato Miguel Alemán Valdés 23,182Juárez Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua Olímpico Benito Juárez 19,703Oaxaca Oaxaca City, Oaxaca Tecnológico de Oaxaca14,598Sinaloa Culiacán, Sinaloa Banorte 20,108Sonora Hermosillo, Sonora Héroe de Nacozari 18,747Tampico Madero Tampico / Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas Tamaulipas 19,667Tapachula Tapachula, Chiapas Olímpico de Tapachula 18,017UAEMToluca, State of Mexico Universitario Alberto "Chivo" Córdoba 32,603UAT Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas Marte R. Gómez 10,520UdeG Guadalajara, Jalisco Jalisco 55,020Venados Mérida, Yucatán Carlos Iturralde 15,087Zacatecas Zacatecas City, Zacatecas Carlos Vega Villalba 20,068Zacatepec Zacatepec, Morelos Agustín "Coruco" Díaz 24,313
Personnel and kits Team Chairman Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor(s)Atlante José Gabriel Gutiérrez Lavín Gabriel Pereyra Gerardo Ruíz Kappa Cancún, Riviera Maya, Pegaso, Acustik Alberto Marrero Alfonso Sosa Mario Abrante Joma Canel's, Nissin, Cemento Moctezuma, Grupo Acerero, Corona, Caliente , Mobil Super, Coca-Cola, Ricon, Grupo Vencedor, MedioTiempo, Bokados, OneClickCelaya Alan Achar José Islas Rodolfo Salinas Keuka Bachoco, Caja Popular MexicanaJuárez Juan Carlos Talavera Gabriel Caballero Leandro Carrijó Carrara Del Rio, S-Mart, Tecate, AutoPronto, Leche Lucerna, Hágalo, Transtelco, UACJOaxaca Santiago San Román Juan Manuel Rivera (Interim) Luis Venegas Keuka Ópticas América, ElectrolitSinaloa José Antonio Núñez Diego Maradona Jesús Chávez Charly Coppel, Electrolit, SuKarne, Caliente, LGSonora Juan Pablo Rojo Isaác Morales José Saavedra Keuka Súper del Norte, Acer, Megacable, Coca-ColaTampico Madero Luis Miguel Pérez Amarante Mario García Javier Orozco Charly Tam, Nexum, Boing!, Electrolit, Omnibus de México, Aeroméxico, Caliente, Leche Marsella José Luis Orantes Costanzo Luis Fernando Soto Silver Sport Cafetaleros de Corazón, ElectrolitUAEM Alfredo Barrera Baca David Rangel Rodrigo Bronzatti Kappa OMPP WOFP, Fundación UAEMéx, Electrolit, Centro Médico de TolucaUAT Rafael Flores Alcocer Arturo Ortíz Pirma Tecate, Hampton by Hilton, Tam, Massey Ferguson, ElectrolitUdeG Jorge Dávalos Ismael Valadéz Umbro Electrolit, Corona, Coca-Cola, Canal 44, GHIR, PulparidnoVenados Rodolfo Rosas Cantillo Sergio Orduña Aldo Polo U-Sports Zacatecas Armando Martínez Patiño Andrés Carevic Roberto Nurse Pirma Telcel, Red Gasislo, Zacatecas ¡Deslumbrante!, Mobil Super, Office Depot, Corona, Caliente , MedioTiempo, Coca-ColaZacatepec Víctor Manuel Arana Ricardo Valiño Marco Argüelles Yire Akron, Itromep Omeprazol 1. On the back of shirt. 2. On the sleeves. 3. On the shorts. 4. On the socks.
Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in tablePre-Apertura changes Juárez Tomás Campos (Interim) End of tenure as caretaker May 1, 2018 Gabriel Caballero June 4, 2018Preseason Zacatepec Marcelo Michel Leaño Signed by Necaxa May 10, 2018 Alberto Clark May 17, 2018 UAT Ricardo Rayas Resigned May 16, 2018 Juan Carlos Chávez May 21, 2018 Atlante Sergio Bueno Sacked May 25, 2018 Gabriel Pereyra June 5, 2018 Sonora Mario García Sacked May 28, 2018 Héctor Altamirano May 29, 2018 Oaxaca Irving Rubirosa Sacked May 29, 2018 Ricardo Rayas June 5, 2018 Tapachula Gabriel Caballero Signed by Juárez June 4, 2018 Irving Rubirosa June 5, 2018 Celaya Ricardo Valiño Sacked July 4, 2018 Enrique Maximiliano Meza July 5, 2018Apertura changes Tapachula Irving Rubirosa Sacked August 27, 2018 Diego de la Torre (Interim) August 28, 201813th Tampico Madero Eduardo Fentanes Sacked September 5, 2018 Miguel de Jesús Fuentes September 6, 201810th Dorados Paco Ramírez Sacked September 6, 2018 Diego Maradona September 6, 201813th Venados Bruno Marioni Sacked September 15, 2018 Joel SánchezSeptember 19, 201813th Zacatepec Alberto Clark Sacked October 2, 2018 Ricardo ValiñoOctober 3, 201810th UAEM Héctor Hugo Eugui Sacked October 23, 2018 David RangelOctober 23, 20188thPre-Clausura changesOaxaca Ricardo RayasSackedNovember 23, 2018 Álex DiegoDecember 3, 2018PreseasonVenados Joel SánchezSackedNovember 28, 2018 Sergio OrduñaDecember 1, 2018Tapachula Diego de la Torre (Interim)End of tenure as caretaker December 3, 2018 Luis Fernando SotoDecember 3, 2018Sonora Héctor AltamiranoResignedDecember 13, 2018 Isaác MoralesDecember 17, 2018Celaya Enrique Maximiliano MezaSackedDecember 5, 2018 José IslasDecember 27, 2018Clausura changesUAT Juan Carlos ChávezResignedFebruary 9, 2019 Carlos ReinosoFebruary 13, 201911thTampico Madero Miguel de Jesús FuentesSackedMarch 5, 2019 Mario García CovallesMarch 6, 201915thOaxaca Álex DiegoSackedApril 8, 2019 Juan Manuel Rivera (interim)April 8, 20196th
Apertura 2018 Apertura 2018 was the 47th edition of Ascenso MX. The league season began on 20 July 2018 and ended on 11 November 2018. Cafetaleros de Tapachula defended their inaugural league title.
Regular season
Standings
Positions by round
Results
Regular season statistics
Scoring First goal of the season: Héctor Arrigo for UAEM against Tapachula (20 July 2018)
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Rank Player Club Goals1 Nicolás IbáñezAtlético San Luis8 Roberto NurseZacatecas2 Vinicio AnguloSinaloa7 Lizandro EcheverríaAtlante Fernando FernándezAtlante Guillermo MartínezZacatecas Luciano NequecaurOaxaca Miguel Ángel VallejoSonora9 Leandro CarrijóJuárez6 Gabriel HachenJuárez
Source: Ascenso MX
Top assists Players sorted first by assists, then by last name. Rank Player Club Assists1 Francisco RiveraZacatecas52 Diego DiellosTapachula4 Mauro FernándezJuárez Gabriel HachenJuárez Julio NavaSinaloa José RamírezZacatecas David SalazarAtlante8 Daniel AmadorU. de G.3 Lizandro EcheverríaAtlante Sergio VergaraZacatecas
Source: Ascenso MX Twitter Profile
Hat-tricks Player For Against Result Date Round Reference Vinicio AnguloSinaloaTapachula4–1 (H)17 September 20188 (H) – Home; (A) – Away
Attendance
Per team
Highest and lowest Highest attendance Lowest attendance Week Home Score Away Attendance Home Score Away Attendance 1 Atlético San Luis0–0Zacatecas11,271UAEM3–1Tapachula1,154 2 Tampico Madero1–2Atlético San Luis7,461Atlante4–1UAT2,126 3 Atlético San Luis1–0Venados10,245UAEM0–0UdeG1,385 4 Tapachula1–2Atlante10,127Oaxaca3–2UAT1,0715 Juárez0–0Tampico Madero9,363Atlante2–1Oaxaca2,210 6 Tampico Madero0–0UAEM5,269Oaxaca1–1Tapachula1,5077 Juárez1–0Atlético San Luis7,822Zacatepec0–0Oaxaca2,392 8 Tampico Madero1–2UAT10,200Celaya0–2Juárez1,231 9 Oaxaca1–0Sinaloa8,220UAEM1–1Celaya2,131 10 Atlético San Luis1–0UAT10,124Venados1–2Atlante3,09311 Zacatepec0–1Sinaloa8,551Oaxaca2–0Tampico Madero1,45712 Zacatecas2–3Sinaloa10,124Celaya1–0Atlante1,300 13 Sinaloa2–1Tampico Madero8,223UAT1–2Juárez1,297 14 Juárez2–3Atlante11,314Celaya1–2Oaxaca88615 U. de G.4–1Celaya10,114Zacatepec1–1Tampico Madero1,612
Source: Ascenso MX
Liguilla (Playoffs)
The eight best teams play two games against each other on a home-and-away basis. The higher seeded teams play on their home field during the second leg. The winner of each match up is determined by aggregate score. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, if the two teams are tied on aggregate the higher seeded team advances. In the final, if the two teams are tied after both legs, the match goes to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
Quarter-finals The first legs were played on 14 and 15 November, and the second legs were played on 17 and 18 November 2018.
All times are UTC−6 except for matches in Cancún, Ciudad Juárez, Culiacán, and Hermosillo.
First leg
Second leg
Semi-finals The first legs were played on 21 and 22 November, and the second legs were played on 24 and 25 November 2018.
First leg
Second leg
Final The first leg was played on 29 November, and the second leg was played on 2 December 2018.
First leg
Second leg
Clausura 2019 The Clausura 2019 season is the 48th season of Ascenso MX. The season began on 4 January 2019. The defending champions are Atlético San Luis, having won their first title.
Regular season
Standings
Positions by round
Results Teams play every other team once (either at home or away), with one team resting each round, completing a total of 15 rounds.
Regular season statistics
Top goalscorers Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Rank Player Club Goals1 Nicolás IbáñezAtlético San Luis112 Fabián BordagaraySinaloa7 Giovani HernándezZacatepec4 Fernando Fabián FernándezAtlante6 Serge Patrick NjohAtlante Martín AlanizTapachula Javier OrozcoTampico Madero8 Guillermo MartínezZacatecas5 Roberto NurseZacatecas Alonso EscobozaSinaloa Jorlian SánchezUdeG Source:Ascenso MX
Top assists Players sorted first by assists, then by last name. Rank Player Club Assists1 Kevin LaraAtlético San Luis52 Giovani HernándezZacatepec4 Ian GonzálezAtlético San Luis Fernando MadrigalAtlético San Luis