The Torneo Guardianes 2021 (stylized as Guard1anes) Liga MX final phase was played between 8 May 2021 to 30 May 2021. A total of 12 teams competed in the final phase to decide the champions of the Guardianes 2021 Liga MX season. For the second straight season, an additional qualifying round, the reclassification or repechaje, was employed, which expanded the number of playoff spots to 12.
Both finalists qualified to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.
Qualified teams The following teams qualified for the championship stage.
In the following tables, the number of appearances, last appearance, and previous best result count only those in the short tournament era starting from Invierno 1996 (not counting those in the long tournament era from 1943–44 to 1995–96).
+Qualified directly to quarter-finals (4 teams)SeedTeamPoints ()Date of qualificationAppearanceLast appearancePrevious bestRef.1Cruz Azul4120 March 202130thGuardianes 2020Champions2América383 April 202135thChampions3Puebla 28 (+11)17 April 2021 9thSemifinals4Monterrey28 (+9)16 April 202125thChampions
+Qualified to Reclassification round (8 teams)SeedTeamPoints ()Date of qualificationAppearanceLast appearancePrevious bestRef.5Santos Laguna26 (+5)18 April 202132ndGuardianes 2020Champions6León26 (+2)30 April 202113thChampions7Atlas2530 April 202122ndApertura 2017Runners-up8Pachuca23 (+1)29 April 202123rdGuardianes 2020Champions9Guadalajara23 (0)1 May 202127thChampions10UANL23 (–1)1 May 202127thChampions11Toluca 22 1 May 2021 34thChampions12Querétaro212 May 202112thApertura 2019Runners-up
Format Reclassification All rounds will be played in a single-leg hosted by the higher seed If a game ends in a draw, it will proceed directly to a penalty shoot-out.
Liguilla Teams are re-seeded after each round. The winners of the Reclassification matches are seeded based on their ranking in the classification table. Team with more goals on aggregate after two matches advance. Away goals rule is applied in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, but not the final. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, if the two teams are tied on aggregate and away goals, the higher seeded team advances. In the final, if the two teams are tied after both legs, the match will go to extra time and, if necessary, a shoot-out. Both finalists will qualify to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.
Reclassification Summary Matches took place on 8–9 May 2021.
Matches
Seeding The following was the final seeding for the final phase. The winners of the Reclassification matches were seeded based on their position in the classification table.
Bracket
Quarter-finals Summary The first legs were played on 12–13 May, and the second legs were played on 15–16 May.
Matches First leg
Second leg
1–1 on aggregate and tied on away goals. Puebla advanced due to being the higher seed in the classification table.
Cruz Azul won 4–3 on aggregate.
Santos Laguna won 3–2 on aggregate.
5–5 on aggregate. Pachuca won on away goals.
Semi-finals Summary The first legs will be played on 19–20 May, and the second legs will be played on 22–23 May.
Matches First leg
Second leg
Cruz Azul won 1–0 on aggregate.
Santos Laguna won 3–1 on aggregate.
Finals Summary The first leg was played on 27 May, and the second leg was played on 30 May.
Matches First leg
Details
GK 1 Carlos Acevedo (c)DF 8 Carlos Orrantia DF 5 Félix TorresDF 21 DóriaDF 190 Omar CamposMF 11 Fernando Gorriarán MF 6 Alan CervantesMF 7 Juan Ferney OteroMF 10 Diego ValdésMF 32 Ayrton Preciado FW 19 Eduardo Aguirre Substitutions:GK 25 Gibrán LajudDF 3 Ismael GoveaDF 20 Hugo RodríguezMF 14 David AndradeMF 22 Ronaldo PrietoMF 23 Andrés Ibargüen MF 27 Jesús Isijara FW 12 Alberto OcejoFW 30 Ignacio Jeraldino FW 192 Santiago Muñóz Manager: Guillermo Almada GK 1 José de Jesús Corona (c)DF 24 Juan EscobarDF 23 Pablo AguilarDF 4 Julio César DomínguezDF 16 Adrián AldreteMF 22 Rafael Baca MF 15 Ignacio Rivero MF 7 Luis Romo MF 28 Guillermo Fernández MF 19 Yoshimar Yotún FW 21 Jonathan RodríguezSubstitutions:GK 33 Sebastián JuradoDF 3 Jaiber JiménezDF 5 Alexis PeñaDF 12 José Joaquín Martínez MF 11 Elías Hernández MF 14 Misael DomínguezMF 20 Alexis GutiérrezMF 31 Orbelín Pineda MF 9 Walter Montoya FW 29 Santiago Giménez Manager: Juan Reynoso
Assistant referees: Michel Alejandro Morales (Mexico City) José Ibrahim Martínez (Guerrero) Fourth official: Diego Montaño Robles (Jalisco) Video assistant referee: Jorge Isaac Rojas (Mexico City) Assistant video assistant referee: Gerardo Martínez Bravo (Guanajuato)
Statistics StatisticCruz AzulGoals scored01Total shots168Shots on target14Saves31Ball possession65%35%Corner kicks98Fouls committed513Offsides10Yellow cards00Red cards00
Second leg
Cruz Azul won 2–1 on aggregate.
Details
GK 1 José de Jesús Corona (c)DF 24 Juan EscobarDF 23 Pablo AguilarDF 4 Julio César DomínguezDF 15 Ignacio Rivero MF 22 Rafael BacaMF 31 Orbelín Pineda MF 7 Luis RomoMF 28 Guillermo Fernández MF 25 Roberto Alvarado FW 21 Jonathan RodríguezSubstitutions:GK 33 Sebastián JuradoDF 5 Alexis PeñaDF 12 José Joaquín Martínez DF 16 Adrián Aldrete MF 11 Elías Hernández MF 14 Misael DomínguezMF 19 Yoshimar Yotún MF 9 Walter Montoya FW 17 Brayan Angulo FW 29 Santiago Giménez Manager: Juan Reynoso GK 1 Carlos Acevedo (c)DF 8 Carlos Orrantia DF 5 Félix TorresDF 21 Dória DF 190 Omar CamposMF 11 Fernando Gorriarán MF 6 Alan CervantesMF 7 Juan Ferney Otero MF 10 Diego Valdés MF 32 Ayrton Preciado FW 19 Eduardo Aguirre Substitutions:GK 25 Gibrán LajudDF 3 Ismael GoveaDF 20 Hugo RodríguezMF 22 Ronaldo Prieto MF 23 Andrés Ibargüen MF 27 Jesús IsijaraMF 202 Jordan CarrilloFW 12 Alberto Ocejo FW 30 Ignacio Jeraldino FW 192 Santiago Muñóz Manager: Guillermo Almada
Assistant referees: Alberto Morín Méndez (Chihuahua) Karen Janet Díaz (Aguascalientes) Fourth official: Luis Enrique Santander (Guanajuato) Video assistant referee: Erick Yair Miranda (Guanajuato) Assistant video assistant referee: Marcos Quintero Huitrón (Jalisco)
Statistics StatisticCruz AzulGoals scored11Total shots911Shots on target31Saves02Ball possession36%64%Corner kicks68Fouls committed1311Offsides00Yellow cards11Red cards00
Statistics Goalscorers
Assists
Notes
References