# 1996–97 Primera División A season

Primera División A (Méxican First A Division) is a Mexican football tournament. This was the first short tournament played in any of the divisions in Mexico composed of Invieno 1996 and Verano 1997. Tigres UANL were able to gain direct promotion to Primera Division for the 1997-98 season after winning both short tournaments in 1996-97.

## Changes for the 1996–97 season

* Tigres UANL were demoted from Liga MX
* Tigrillos UANL were promoted from Segunda División.
* Pachuca were promoted to Liga MX
* Gallos Blancos de Hermosillo relocated to Pachuca and renamed Atlético Hidalgo.
* Real Sociedad de Zacatecas new team.

## Teams and stadiums

| Team | City | Stadium | Capacity |
| Acapulco | Acapulco de Juárez | Unidad Deportiva Acapulco | 13,000 |
| Atlético Hidalgo | Pachuca | Hidalgo | 30.000 |
| Cruz Azul Hidalgo | Jasso | 10 de Diciembre | 10.000 |
| Correcaminos UAT | Ciudad Victoria | Estadio Marte R. Gómez | 20.000 |
| Irapuato | Irapuato | Sergio León Chávez | 26.000 |
| La Piedad | La Piedad | Juan N. López | 20.000 |
| San Luis | San Luis Potosí | Plan de San Luis | 18.000 |
| Real Sociedad de Zacatecas | Zacatecas | Francisco Villa | 18.000 |
| Atlético San Francisco | San Francisco del Rincón | San Francisco | 8.000 |
| Saltillo Soccer | Saltillo | Francisco I. Madero | 10.000 |
| Tampico Madero | Tampico-Ciudad Madero | Tamaulipas | 30.000 |
| Inter de Tijuana | Tijuana | Cerro Colorado | 12.000 |
| UANL | San Nicolás de los Garza | Universitario | 40.000 |
| Tigrillos | San Nicolás de los Garza | Universitario | 40.000 |
| Marte | Xochitepec | Mariano Matamoros | 18.000 |
| Atlético Yucatán | Mérida | Carlos Iturralde | 24,000 |
| Zacatepec | Zacatepec | Agustín Díaz | 18.000 |

## Invierno 1996

This year Atlético Hidalgo joined the league along with Tigres UANL who had been relegated. Tigres UANL would go on to be the tournament's champion.

### Group league tables
#### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | UANL | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 13 | +16 | 35 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | UAT | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | RS Zacatecas | 16 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 25 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 4 | San Luis | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 24 | |
| 5 | Tigrillos | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 16 | |

#### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Tampico Madero | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 25 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | La Piedad | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 22 | −2 | 20 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Atlético Yucatán | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 20 | |
| 4 | Inter de Tijuana | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 26 | −10 | 15 | |

#### Group 3

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Marte | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | Atlético Hidalgo | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 25 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Acapulco | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 27 | −10 | 15 | |
| 4 | Atlético San Francisco | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 25 | −5 | 14 | Last on the relegation table |

#### Group 4

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Irapuato | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 27 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | Saltillo | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 24 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 19 | |
| 4 | Zacatepec | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 17 | |

### General league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | UANL | 16 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 29 | 13 | +16 | 35 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | Irapuato | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 27 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Marte | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 4 | UAT | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 5 | RS Zacatecas | 16 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 25 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 6 | Atlético Hidalgo | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 25 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 7 | Tampico Madero | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 25 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 8 | Saltillo | 16 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 15 | +5 | 24 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 9 | San Luis | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 24 | |
| 10 | La Piedad | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 20 | 22 | −2 | 20 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 11 | Atlético Yucatán | 16 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 16 | −3 | 20 | |
| 12 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 19 | |
| 13 | Zacatepec | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 17 | |
| 14 | Tigrillos | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 16 | |
| 15 | Acapulco | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 27 | −10 | 15 | |
| 16 | Inter de Tijuana | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 26 | −10 | 15 | |
| 17 | Atlético San Francisco | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 20 | 25 | −5 | 14 | Last on the relegation table |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ACA | ATH | CRH | IRA | LAP | MAR | SNL | RSZ | SAL | SFR | TAM | TJS | UNL | TIG | UAT | YUC | ZAC |
| Acapulco | | 1–1 | 2–2 | | | | | 1–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | | | 1–2 | 1–0 | | | 2–0 |
| Atlético Hidalgo | | | 4–1 | | | | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 4–1 |
| Cruz Azul Hidalgo | | | | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 4–2 | | | | 2–1 | | 1–2 | | | 2–0 | |
| Irapuato | 1–0 | 0–1 | | | | | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 1–0 | | 2–1 | | | 0–1 |
| La Piedad | 4–0 | 0–1 | | 1–0 | | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | | | 3–2 | | 1–1 | 4–1 | | |
| Marte | 1–0 | 5–1 | | 2–2 | 3–1 | | | | | | 2–0 | 3–1 | | | 1–1 | 1–2 | |
| San Luis | 4–2 | | | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | | | | 2–2 | 1–0 | | | | 4–1 | |
| RS Zacatecas | | | 2–1 | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | | | 3–0 | 1–3 | | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| Saltillo | | | 1–0 | | | 0–0 | 5–0 | 3–2 | | 1–0 | | | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 1–2 |
| San Francisco | | | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–6 | | | | 4–1 | | 1–2 | | | 0–2 | 0–0 |
| Tampico Madero | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | | | | 0–0 | | | 2–2 | | | 1–0 | 1–0 | |
| Tijuana | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | | | | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–1 | | | | 1–1 | | | 1–0 |
| Tigres | | | | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | | | | 2–0 | 5–1 | | | | 2–0 | |
| Tigrillos | | | 1–1 | | | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 1–2 | | 5–1 | | 2–1 |
| UAT | 3–2 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | | | 2–0 | | | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | | | | 3–4 |
| Yucatán | 0–1 | 0–0 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | | | | 2–0 | | | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | | |
| Zacatepec | | | 0–0 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | | | 0–0 | | 3–2 | | | 1–1 | |

### Liguilla
#### Repechaje

| Home | Team | Score | Visitor | Global |
| 1 | C.F. La Piedad | 2-1 | Real Sociedad | |
| 2 | Real Sociedad | 6-1 | C.F. La Piedad | 7-3 |
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Tigres | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Saltillo | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Saltillo | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | Tigres | 2 | 8 | 10 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Tampico Madero | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| 5 | Tampico Madero | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | Tampico Madero | 1 | 2 | 1 | | | | | |
| 4 | Irapuato FC | 0 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Irapuato FC | 0 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | 1 | Tigres | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Atlético Hidalgo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Atlético Hidalgo | 0 | 1 | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Atlético Hidalgo | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Marte | 0 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Marte | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Atlético Hidalgo | 2 | 3 | 1 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 2 | Real Sociedad | 0 | 1 | 7 | | | | | |
| 7 | Real Sociedad | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Real Sociedad | 0 | 1 | 7 | | | | | |
| 2 | Correcaminos | 0 | 1 | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
* Invierno 1996 winner:
* UANL 1st title

### Top scorers

| Scorer | Goals | Team |
| Nilson Esidio Munoz | 12 | Tigres |
| Ángel Lemus | 10 | Irapuato |
| Juan Zandoná | 9 | Real Sociedad de Zacatecas |
Last updated: May 3, 2008 Source: FMF Last updated: January 20, 2012 Source: Senorgol

## Verano 1997

Tigres UANL would go on to be the tournament's champion.

### Group league tables
#### Group 1

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | UAT | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 16 | +12 | 34 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | UANL | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 42 | 20 | +22 | 33 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Tigrillos | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 4 | RS Zacatecas | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 17 | |
| 5 | San Luis | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 17 | |

#### Group 2

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético Yucatán | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 22 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | Tampico Madero | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 29 | −5 | 20 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | La Piedad | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 34 | −8 | 15 | |
| 4 | Inter de Tijuana | 16 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 32 | −19 | 10 | Last on the relegation table |

#### Group 3

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Atlético Hidalgo | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 27 | +6 | 31 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | Atlético San Francisco | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 30 | −4 | 17 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Acapulco | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 33 | −16 | 15 | |
| 4 | Marte | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 28 | −5 | 12 | |

#### Group 4

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 20 | +9 | 27 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | Saltillo | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Zacatepec | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 24 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 4 | Irapuato | 16 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 20 | |

### General league table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | UAT | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 16 | +12 | 34 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 2 | UANL | 16 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 42 | 20 | +22 | 33 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 3 | Atlético Hidalgo | 16 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 27 | +6 | 31 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 4 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 16 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 20 | +9 | 27 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 5 | Saltillo | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 19 | +5 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 6 | Tigrillos | 16 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 26 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 7 | Zacatepec | 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 23 | −2 | 24 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 8 | Atlético Yucatán | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 22 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 9 | Irapuato | 16 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 20 | |
| 10 | Tampico Madero | 16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 24 | 29 | −5 | 20 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 11 | RS Zacatecas | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 17 | |
| 12 | Atlético San Francisco | 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 30 | −4 | 17 | Qualifies for the Liguilla |
| 13 | San Luis | 16 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 32 | −7 | 17 | |
| 14 | La Piedad | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 26 | 34 | −8 | 15 | |
| 15 | Acapulco | 16 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 33 | −16 | 15 | |
| 16 | Marte | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 28 | −5 | 12 | |
| 17 | Inter de Tijuana | 16 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 32 | −19 | 10 | Last on the relegation table |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ACA | ATH | CRH | IRA | LAP | MAR | SNL | RSZ | SAL | SFR | TAM | TJS | UNL | TIG | UAT | YUC | ZAC |
| Acapulco | | | | 0–0 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 3–2 | | | | 0–2 | 4–2 | | | 0–1 | 0–0 | |
| Atlético Hidalgo | 2–2 | | | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | | | | | 3–2 | 2–0 | | | | 4–1 | |
| Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 6–0 | 2–3 | | | | | | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | | 3–0 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 3–1 |
| Irapuato | | | 2–0 | | 6–0 | 2–2 | 4–2 | | | | 3–1 | | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 2–3 | |
| La Piedad | | | 3–3 | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | | | 1–1 | 4–1 | | 2–2 | | | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| Marte | | | 2–3 | | | | 5–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–3 | | | 0–1 | 1–1 | | | 1–2 |
| San Luis | | 5–1 | 1–0 | | | | | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | | | 2–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 1–1 |
| RS Zacatecas | 3–0 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | | | | 0–0 | | | 3–1 | | 0–2 | | | |
| Saltillo | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 4–2 | | | | | | 1–0 | 3–0 | | | | 2–1 | |
| San Francisco | 3–1 | 2–3 | | 1–1 | | | | 3–2 | 1–1 | | | 4–0 | | 0–1 | 2–3 | | |
| Tampico Madero | | | 1–0 | | | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | | 5–3 | | | 2–2 | 0–2 | | | 2–1 |
| Tijuana | | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | | | | 4–1 | | 1–2 | | 0–2 | 1–0 | |
| Tigres | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | | | | | 3–2 | 6–1 | 4–0 | | | | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 4–1 |
| Tigrillos | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 2–1 | | | | 2–1 | | | 1–1 | | | | 2–1 | |
| Correcaminos UAT | | 2–2 | | | 4–2 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 4–1 | | | 0–0 | | 1–0 | |
| Yucatán | | | 0–1 | | | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–2 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 3–2 | | | | 0–0 |
| Zacatepec | 0–0 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | | | | 1–4 | 0–2 | 3–1 | | 3–0 | | 3–2 | 1–3 | | |

### Liguilla
#### Liguilla

| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Tigres | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Zacatepec | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Zacatepec | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Tigres | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| 5 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | Cruz Azul Hidalgo | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | |
| 4 | Saltillo | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Saltillo | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | Tigres | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Correcaminos | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | Atlético Hidalgo | 1 | 3 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Correcaminos | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Tigrillos | 4 | 1 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Tigrillos | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | Correcaminos | 0 | 6 | 6 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | Tigrillos | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 7 | Correcaminos | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | Tigrillos | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 2 | A. Yucatán | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
* Verano 1997 winner:
* UANL 2nd title

### Top scorers

| Scorer | Goals | Team |
| Carlos Pavón | 12 | Correcaminos |
| Ángel Lemus | 12 | Irapuato |
Last updated: May 3, 2008 Source: FMF Last updated: January 20, 2012 Source: Senorgol

## Campeón de Ascenso 1997

UANL were champions of Invierno 1996 and Verano 1997 tournaments, automatically winning the Campeón de Ascenso and gained the promotion to Primera División.

## Relegation table

| Pos. | Team | Games | Points | PPG |
| 14. | Acapulco | 90 | 79 | 0.8778 |
| 15. | Atlético Yucatán | 60 | 52 | 0.8667 |
| 16. | Marte | 90 | 78 | 0.8667 |
| 17. | Tijuana | 90 | 78 | 0.8667 |