# Apertura 2023 Liga MX final phase

The Apertura 2023 Liga MX final phase was played between 22 November and 17 December 2023. A total of ten teams competed in the final phase to decide the champions of the Apertura 2023 Liga MX season.
On 22 May 2023, a modification for the final phase was announced at the owners assembly in Toluca; reducing the clubs from twelve to ten. The number of clubs qualifying for the quarter-finals was increased from four to six while the teams qualifying for the reclassification was reduced from six to four. The four clubs qualified for the reclassification competed in the "play-in" round, a tournament modeled after the NBA play-in tournament.
América defeated UANL 3–0 on aggregate to win their fourteenth league title. As winners, América will face the Clasura 2024 champion in the 2024 Campeón de Campeones. Both finalists qualified for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

## 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 (6 teams) :
| Seed | Team | Points (GD) | Date of qualification | Appearance | Last appearance | Previous best (last) |
| 1 | América | 40 | 24 October 2023 (PLAY) 28 October 2023 (QF) | 39th | Clausura 2023 | Champions (Ap. 2018) |
| 2 | Monterrey | 33 | 1 November 2023 (PLAY) 3 November 2023 (QF) | 29th | Clausura 2023 | Champions (Ap. 2019) |
| 3 | UANL | 30 | 29 October 2023 (PLAY) 31 October 2023 (QF) | 32nd | Clausura 2023 | Champions (Cl. 2023) |
| 4 | UNAM | 28 | 3 November 2023 (PLAY) 11 November 2023 (QF) | 26th | Clausura 2023 | Champions (Cl. 2011) |
| 5 | Guadalajara | 27 | 3 November 2023 (PLAY) 4 November 2023 (QF) | 31st | Clausura 2023 | Champions (Cl. 2017) |
| 6 | Puebla | 25 | 12 November 2023 (PLAY) 12 November 2023 (QF) | 14th | Clausura 2023 | Semi-finals (Gua. 2021) |
Qualified to the play-in round (4 teams) :
| Seed | Team | Points (GD) | Date of qualification | Appearance | Last appearance | Previous best |
| 7 | Atlético San Luis | 23 (+5) | 10 November 2023 | 4th | Clausura 2023 | Quarter-finals (Cl. 2023) |
| 8 | León | 23 (+1) | 12 November 2023 | 17th | Clausura 2023 | Champions (Gua. 2020) |
| 9 | Santos Laguna | 23 (–3) | 11 November 2023 | 36th | Apertura 2022 | Champions (Cl. 2018) |
| 10 | Mazatlán | 22 | 10 November 2023 | 2nd | Clausura 2022 | Reclassification (Cl. 2022) |

## Play-in round
### Format

The 9th place team hosts the 10th place team in an elimination game. The 7th hosts the 8th place team in the double-chance game, with the winner advancing as the 7-seed. The loser of this game then hosts the winner of the elimination game between the 9th and 10th place teams to determine the 8-seed.

### Bracket

| Play-in matches | Play-in matches | Play-in matches | No. 8 seed match | No. 8 seed match | No. 8 seed match | Final seeds | Final seeds | Final seeds |
| Serie A | Serie A | Serie A | | | | | | |
| 7 | Atlético San Luis | 3 | | | | 7 | Atlético San Luis | No. 7 seed |
| 8 | León | 2 | | | | 8 | León | No. 8 seed |
| | | | 8 | León | 3 | | | |
| Serie B | Serie B | Serie B | 9 | Santos Laguna | 2 | | | |
| 9 | Santos Laguna | 2 | | | | | | |
| 10 | Mazatlán | 1 | | | | | | |

### Play-in matches

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| Atlético San Luis | 3–2 | León |
| Santos Laguna | 2–1 | Mazatlán |

#### Serie B
### No. 8 seed match

| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
| León | 3–2 | Santos Laguna |

## Seeding

The following is the current seeding for the final phase.
| Seed | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Host |
| 1 | América | 17 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 14 | +23 | 40 | Hosts second leg |
| 2 | Monterrey | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 27 | 15 | +12 | 33 | Hosts second leg |
| 3 | UANL | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 18 | +14 | 30 | Hosts second leg |
| 4 | UNAM | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 27 | 18 | +9 | 28 | Hosts second leg |
| 5 | Guadalajara | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 27 | Hosts first leg |
| 6 | Puebla | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 24 | 25 | −1 | 25 | Hosts first leg |
| 7 | Atlético San Luis | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 31 | 26 | +5 | 23 | Hosts first leg |
| 8 | León | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 22 | +1 | 23 | Hosts first leg |

## Bracket

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | América | 2 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | León | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 8 | León | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | América | 5 | 0 | 5 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 7 | Atlético San Luis | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 2 | Monterrey | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | Atlético San Luis | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | | | |
| 7 | Atlético San Luis | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 7 | Atlético San Luis | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | 1 | América (a.e.t.) | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | UANL | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | UANL | 2 | 3 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | UANL | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Puebla | 2 | 0 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 6 | Puebla | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | UANL | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | | |
| | | | | | 4 | UNAM | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 4 | UNAM | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | UNAM | 0 | 1 | 1 | | | | | |
| 5 | Guadalajara | 1 | 0 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | |

## Quarter-finals
### Summary

The first legs will be played on 29–30 November, and the second legs will be played on 2–3 December 2023.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| León | 2–4 | América | 2–2 | 0–2 |
| Atlético San Luis | 2–1 | Monterrey | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Puebla | 2–5 | UANL | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Guadalajara | 1–3 | UNAM | 1–0 | 0–3 |

### Matches

América won 4–2 on aggregate.
Atlético San Luis won 2–1 on aggregate.
UANL won 5–2 on aggregate.
UNAM won 3–1 on aggregate.

## Semi-finals
### Summary

The first legs will be played on 6–7 December, and the second legs will be played on 9–10 December 2023.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Atlético San Luis | 2–5 | América | 0–5 | 2–0 |
| UNAM | 1–2 | UANL | 0–1 | 1–1 |

### Matches

América won 5–2 on aggregate.
UANL won 2–1 on aggregate.

## Finals
### Summary

The first leg was played on 14 December, and the second leg was played on 17 December 2023.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| UANL | 1–4 | América | 1–1 | 0–3 (a.e.t.) |

### First leg
#### Details

| UANL | América |
| GK | 1 | Nahuel Guzmán |
| DF | 20 | Javier Aquino |
| DF | 19 | Guido Pizarro (c) |
| DF | 3 | Samir | | 45+4' |
| DF | 27 | Jesús Angulo |
| MF | 5 | Rafael Carioca | 2' |
| MF | 8 | Fernando Gorriarán | | 69' |
| MF | 17 | Sebastián Córdova | 83' |
| MF | 6 | Juan Pablo Vigón | | 61' |
| MF | 16 | Diego Lainez | | 61' |
| FW | 10 | André-Pierre Gignac |
| Substitutions: ||
| GK | 25 | Carlos Felipe Rodríguez |
| DF | 13 | Diego Reyes | | 45+4' |
| DF | 15 | Eduardo Tercero |
| DF | 28 | Fernando Ordóñez |
| DF | 32 | Vladimir Loroña |
| MF | 22 | Raymundo Fulgencio | | 61' |
| MF | 24 | Marcelo Flores |
| MF | 26 | Sebastián Fierro |
| FW | 9 | Nicolás Ibáñez | | 69' |
| FW | 29 | Ozziel Herrera | | 61' |
| Manager: ||
| Robert Dante Siboldi ||
| GK | 1 | Luis Malagón |
| DF | 19 | Miguel Layún |
| DF | 31 | Igor Lichnovsky | 8' |
| DF | 4 | Sebastián Cáceres |
| DF | 2 | Luis Fuentes |
| MF | 8 | Álvaro Fidalgo |
| MF | 6 | Jonathan dos Santos | | 84' |
| MF | 33 | Julián Quiñones | | 90+1' |
| MF | 17 | Alejandro Zendejas | | 90+1' |
| MF | 10 | Diego Valdés | | 84' |
| FW | 21 | Henry Martín (c) |
| Substitutions: ||
| GK | 27 | Óscar Jiménez |
| DF | 3 | Israel Reyes |
| DF | 5 | Kevin Álvarez | | 90+1' |
| DF | 29 | Ramón Juárez |
| MF | 7 | Brian Rodríguez |
| MF | 16 | Santiago Naveda |
| MF | 20 | Richard Sánchez | | 84' |
| MF | 26 | Salvador Reyes | | 90+1' |
| MF | 32 | Leonardo Suárez |
| FW | 11 | Jonathan Rodríguez | | 84' |
| Manager: ||
| André Jardine ||
* Assistant referees:
* Christian Kiabek Espinosa (Mexico City)
* Marco Antonio Bisguerra (Guanajuato)
* Fourth official:
* Víctor Alfonso Cáceres (Chiapas)
* Video assistant referee:
* Fernando Hernández Gómez (Mexico City)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Erick Yair Miranda (Guanajuato)

#### Statistics

| Statistic | UANL | América |
| Goals scored | 1 | 1 |
| Total shots | 10 | 12 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 2 |
| Saves | 1 | 4 |
| Ball possession | 54% | 46% |
| Corner kicks | 9 | 2 |
| Fouls committed | 15 | 17 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 1 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |

### Second leg

América won 4–1 on aggregate.

#### Details

| América | UANL |
| GK | 1 | Luis Malagón |
| DF | 19 | Miguel Layún | 26' | 76' |
| DF | 31 | Igor Lichnovsky | 7' | 108' |
| DF | 4 | Sebastián Cáceres |
| DF | 2 | Luis Fuentes | | 90+9' |
| MF | 6 | Jonathan dos Santos | | 90+9' |
| MF | 8 | Álvaro Fidalgo |
| MF | 33 | Julián Quiñones | | 108' |
| MF | 17 | Alejandro Zendejas | | 76' |
| MF | 10 | Diego Valdés |
| FW | 21 | Henry Martín (c) |
| Substitutions: ||
| GK | 27 | Óscar Jiménez |
| DF | 3 | Israel Reyes | | 90+9' |
| DF | 5 | Kevin Álvarez | | 76' |
| DF | 29 | Ramón Juárez | | 108' |
| MF | 7 | Brian Rodríguez |
| MF | 16 | Santiago Naveda |
| MF | 20 | Richard Sánchez | | 90+9' |
| MF | 26 | Salvador Reyes |
| MF | 32 | Leonardo Suárez | | 108' |
| FW | 11 | Jonathan Rodríguez | | 76' |
| Manager: ||
| André Jardine ||
| GK | 1 | Nahuel Guzmán | 93' 95' |
| DF | 20 | Javier Aquino | | 86' |
| DF | 19 | Guido Pizarro (c) |
| DF | 13 | Diego Reyes | 32' |
| DF | 27 | Jesús Angulo |
| MF | 5 | Rafael Carioca | 36' |
| MF | 8 | Fernando Gorriarán | | 97' |
| MF | 16 | Diego Lainez | | 75' |
| MF | 17 | Sebastián Córdova | | 75' |
| MF | 29 | Ozziel Herrera | | 62' |
| FW | 10 | André-Pierre Gignac |
| Substitutions: ||
| GK | 25 | Carlos Felipe Rodríguez | | 97' |
| DF | 15 | Eduardo Tercero |
| DF | 28 | Fernando Ordóñez |
| DF | 32 | Vladimir Loroña | | 86' |
| MF | 6 | Juan Pablo Vigón | | 75' |
| MF | 22 | Raymundo Fulgencio | 80' | 75' |
| MF | 24 | Marcelo Flores |
| MF | 26 | Sebastián Fierro |
| FW | 9 | Nicolás Ibáñez |
| FW | 23 | Luis Quiñones | | 62' |
| Manager: ||
| Robert Dante Siboldi ||
* Assistant referees:
* Alberto Morín Méndez (Chihuahua)
* Michel Ricardo Espinoza (Mexico City)
* Fourth official:
* Fernando Guerrero (Mexico City)
* Video assistant referee:
* Jorge Antonio Pérez (Veracruz)
* Assistant video assistant referee:
* Óscar Macías Romo (Aguascalientes)

#### Statistics

| Statistic | América | UANL |
| Goals scored | 3 | 0 |
| Total shots | 18 | 9 |
| Shots on target | 7 | 3 |
| Saves | 3 | 4 |
| Ball possession | 60% | 40% |
| Corner kicks | 4 | 1 |
| Fouls committed | 18 | 23 |
| Offsides | 1 | 0 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red cards | 0 | 2 |

## Statistics
### Goalscorers

There were 48 goals scored in 17 matches, for an average of 2.82 goals per match. Players highlighted in bold are still active in the competition.
5 goals
* Henry Martín (América)
4 goals
* Julián Quiñones (América)
2 goals
* Juan Brunetta (Santos Laguna)
* Gabriel Fernández (UNAM)
* André-Pierre Gignac (UANL)
* Diego Valdés (América)
* Federico Viñas (León)
* Ángel Zaldívar (Atlético San Luis)
1 goal
* Alfonso Alvarado (León)
* Fidel Ambríz (León)
* Jesús Angulo (UANL)
* Paul Bellón (León)
* Fernando Beltrán (Guadalajara)
* Alan Cervantes (Santos Laguna)
* Ricardo Chávez (Atlético San Luis)
* Sebastián Córdova (UANL)
* Jürgen Damm (Atlético San Luis)
* Vitinho (Atlético San Luis)
* Sergio Flores (Mazatlán)
* Adonis Frías (León)
* Raymundo Fulgencio (UANL)
* Rogelio Funes Mori (Monterrey)
* César Huerta (UNAM)
* Ozziel Herrera (UANL)
* Nicolás Ibáñez (UANL)
* Nicolás López (León)
* Guillermo Martínez (Puebla)
* Sebastián Olmedo (Puebla)
* Harold Preciado (Santos Laguna)
* Jonathan Rodríguez (América)
* Sébastien Salles-Lamonge (Atlético San Luis)
* Richard Sánchez (América)
* Juan Pablo Vigón (UANL)
1 own goal
* Antonio Briseño (against UNAM)
* William Tesillo (against Atlético San Luis)

### Assists

3 assists
* Álvaro Fidalgo (América)
2 assists
* Rafael Carioca (UANL)
* Sebastián Córdova (UANL)
* Ángel Mena (León)
* Harold Preciado (Santos Laguna)
* Jonathan Rodríguez (América)
* Kevin Velasco (Puebla)
1 assist
* Pablo Bennevendo (UNAM)
* Unai Bilbao (Atlético San Luis)
* Cristian Calderón (Guadalajara)
* Jürgen Damm (Atlético San Luis)
* Omar Fernández (León)
* Jesús Gallardo (Monterrey)
* Fernando Gorriarán (UANL)
* Ismael Govea (Santos Laguna)
* Elías Hernández (León)
* Miguel Layún (América)
* Raúl López (Santos Laguna)
* Vladimir Loroña (UANL)
* Henry Martín (América)
* Osvaldo Rodríguez (León)
* Eduardo Salvio (UNAM)
* Juan Manuel Sanabria (Atlético San Luis)
* William Tesillo (León)
* Dieter Villalpando (Atlético San Luis)
* Federico Viñas (León)