Like all playoff systems, Mexico's playoff system rarely results in the top two teams in the regular season meeting in the final. It gives priority to the team that hits their peak at the critical moment of the championship. This season's Clausura final will have Pachuca, who finished top of the overall table, meeting UNAM Pumas, who finished third. Their paths to the finals were far from clinical, however.
Pachuca overpowered Chiapas in both legs of the first round, and defeated Ciudad Juárez away in the semifinals. But Indios put in a very gutty performance in Hidalgo and almost secured one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Mexican playoffs before a stoppage-time goal sent Pachuca through. Pumas had an even rockier road to the playoffs. They had to overturn a 0-2 deficit against UAG in the first round, and escaped their semifinal round against Puebla by virtue of their superior record during the regular season.
The final could be a matter of which team cracks at home first, or which team shakes off the scare of the previous round. Pachuca and Pumas have had very good tournaments, but they're not without their flaws. Nevertheless, it should be an entertaining final between two historic clubs that have never met each other at this stage.
One very interesting factoid: In the short tournament era, the overall leader has gone on to win the playoffs on five occasions. Enrique Meza, manager of Pachuca, has been the manager of four of those five teams.
Oh yes, and both sides have clinched places at next season's CONCACAF Champions League. The winner goes to the group stage, and the loser has to negotiate the preliminary round.
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