The 2017–18 Ascenso MX season is a two-part competition: Apertura 2017 and Clausura 2018. Ascenso MX is the second-tier football league of Mexico. Apertura began on 21 July 2017, and Clausura began on 5 January 2018.[3]
Changes from the previous season
Six teams meet the requirements to be promoted to the Liga MX for the 2018–2019 season. Those teams are Atlético San Luis, Atlante, Celaya, Juárez, Sinaloa, and UdeG. The remaining teams were awarded MXN$120 million for winning the promotion playoff, which should be utilized to fulfill necessary requirements for promotion within the next season, and remain in Ascenso MX.[4][5] If a team wins promotion but does not meet requirements for Liga MX, the relegated Liga MX team of the 2017–18 season will be obligated to pay the prize money to that team, and the relegated Liga MX team will remain in first division. If the relegated Liga MX team cannot distribute the prize money to the promoted Ascenso MX team, both teams will lose their right to play in Liga MX and must play in Ascenso MX the following season.[6]: 16
Tlaxcala were promoted from the Segunda División but will not compete this season due to a failure to meet stadium requirements. Their spot in Ascenso MX will be reserved for the 2018–19 season.[11]
The regular season began on 21 July 2017 and ended on 11 November 2017. Fixtures for the Apertura 2017 season were announced on 13 June 2017.[40]
The ninth round of the season, scheduled for 22 and 23 September 2017, was suspended after the 2017 Central Mexico earthquake on 19 September 2017.[41]
However, the ninth round was still the next round played, during the FIFA International break on 6,7, and 8 October 2017.[42]
The liguilla was played from 15 November to 2 December 2017. Oaxaca won their first title after defeating Juárez on penalties.[43]
Updated to match(es) played on 11 November 2017. Source: Ascenso MX Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored. (C) Champions
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. If the teams are tied, the away goals rule applies. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, 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 goes to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
The regular season began on 5 January 2018 and ended on 1 April 2018. The liguilla began on 7 April 2018 and ended on 29 April 2018.[44]Alebrijes de Oaxaca are the defending champions, having won their first title. Cafetaleros de Tapachula defeated Leones Negros UdeG 3–2 on aggregate to win their first title.
Updated to match(es) played on 1 April 2018. Source: Ascenso MX Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of goals scored away; 5) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 6) Highest relegation coefficient; 7) Fair Play points (C) Champions; (R) Relegated Notes:
^Tapachula defeated Oaxaca in the promotion final between the Apertura and Clausura champions, but were not certified to be promoted prior to the beginning of the season.
^The first eight ranked teams qualify for the Liguilla. If the team last in the Relegation table is in the top eight, the ninth placed team qualifies for the Liguilla.
^The last team in the relegation table can not qualify for liguilla.
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 3, but then postponed and played between days 6 and 7, it will be added to the standings for day 6.
The eighth round was played on 13 and 14 February 2018. Due to a friendly between Atlético San Luis and New York City FC on 13 February 2018, the match between Zacatepec and Atlético San Luis was postponed until 20 February 2018, after the ninth round.
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. If the teams are tied, the away goals rule applies. In the quarterfinals and semifinals, 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 goes to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
Zacatepec exercised their right, as the higher seeded team, to play the first leg at home.[45] This was done with the intention to minimize travel between matches as Zacatepec played the Clausura 2018 Copa MX semi-final at home on 4 April 2018. If Zacatepec had advanced to the final, it would have been played on 11 April 2018, between the first and second legs, in Zacatepec.
The Promotion Final is a two-legged playoff between the winners of the Apertura and Clausura tournaments to determine which team will be promoted to Liga MX. The final would not be played if one team wins both the Apertura and Clausura tournaments, and they would be automatically promoted if they meet Liga MX requirements. The higher ranked team on the aggregate table, for the 2017–18 season, will play the second leg at home.
The Apertura 2017 champion was Oaxaca. The Clausura 2018 champion was Tapachula.[47] Since the change in regulation for the 2017–18 season, neither team is certified to be promoted to Liga MX. The winner of the final can receive the prize money of MXN$120 million from the relegated Liga MX team, Lobos BUAP, but would not participate in the following Liga MX season.[48][49] The 2018–19 Liga MX season would then be played with 17 teams. On 1 May 2018, the league announced there would be no changes to the relegation and promotion regulations agreed to before the beginning of the season.[50] The league reiterated, on 4 May 2018, that the final would be played for a monetary prize and must be played by the participating teams who would otherwise risk their disaffiliation.[51]
The Aggregate table is the general ranking for the 2017–18 season. This table is a sum of the Apertura and Clausura tournament standings. The aggregate table is used to determine seeding for the "Promotion" Final and for Apertura 2018 Copa MX qualification.
Updated to match(es) played on 1 April 2018. Source: Ascenso MX Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of goals scored away; 5) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 6) Highest relegation coefficient; 7) Fair Play points (C) Champions; (P) 2017–18 champion; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated Notes:
^ abcdefCertified by Liga MX and Ascenso MX as eligible for promotion prior to beginning of 2017–18 season
^ abThe Apertura and Clausura champions advance to the Promotion Final to determine who is promoted to Liga MX.
Relegation table
The relegated team will be the one with the lowest ratio of points to matches played in the following tournaments: Apertura 2015, Clausura 2016, Apertura 2016, Clausura 2017, Apertura 2017, and Clausura 2018.
Last update: 1 April 2018 Rules for relegation: 1) Relegation coefficient; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 5) Number of goals scored away; 6) Fair Play points
R = Relegated
Source: Ascenso MX
Notes
^ abcThe Murciélagos v Venados match was played behind closed doors due to punishment by FMF.[1][2]
^Zacatepec took on the points that Coras accumulated in previous seasons.[54]: 15
^The points accumulated by Atlético San Luis in the 2015–16 season will not count towards their relegation coefficient.[54]: 15