Only four Liga MX teams remain as the Apertura 2024 final approaches.

The Liga MX Apertura 2024 quarterfinals were an absolute treat for football fans across the country. Surprises, comebacks and lots of action. When the dust settled, Cruz Azul, Monterrey, Atlético San Luis and Club América emerged victorious from the duels.

Three of the top four teams in the regular season were eliminated. Toluca were clearly outplayed over 180 minutes against reigning champions America, who appear to be back in top form. Tigres failed to recover from a brutal 3-0 defeat in the first leg against San Luis. The Pumas were overwhelmed by Monterrey’s individual quality and were dismantled at home in the second leg. Only Cruz Azul managed to live up to their status as favorites, but had to come back after a surprise 3-0 defeat in the first leg against Tijuana.

Monterrey, with all its expensive signings and great talent, will face the humble but very dangerous San Luis. Domenèc Torrent’s team hasn’t lost in over a month and is firing on all cylinders, especially at home. Monterrey goes into the game as favorites, but San Luis looked better in the quarterfinals.

Cruz Azul vs América is undoubtedly the main event. El Clásico Joven in the semi-finals will be a repeat of last season’s final. This will be the sixth time these two teams have met in the playoffs since 2013 and Martín Anselmi will be hoping to end Cruz Azul’s curse as América have won all of their previous six games.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Liga MX Apertura 2024 semifinals.

Join Si Soccer’s Liga MX WhatsApp community – get all the latest news and analysis straight to your phone

First leg

Second leg

First leg

Second leg

Without playing great, Monterrey beat the Pumas in the semi-finals without any major problems. Lucas Ocampos’ suspension was reduced to one game and he scored in the second leg against the Pumas, reinforcing the feeling that he has become the team’s best player in his first season at the club.

Martín Demichelis has an impressive squad, but one that needs to improve to reach the final. San Luis eliminated Monterrey in the Apertura 2023 playoffs a year ago and a repeat of history will not be tolerated.

Demichelis will be without Jordi Cortizo and goalkeeper Esteban Andrada in the semi-finals, but has more than enough talent to replace them. All in all, Monterrey has what it takes to avenge its playoff loss a year ago.

San Luis beat Tigres in a draw where many didn’t give them much of a chance. Torrent’s team were ruthless on the counterattack at home in the first leg. Andrés Sánchez was the best player of the quarterfinals with a total of 17 saves and two goals conceded.

San Luis enjoys its position as an outsider. The elimination of Monterrey and Tigres in one year is a testament to the team’s ability to do more with less. Torrent’s modest squad have not lost since October 20 and remain unbeaten at home, where they will look to take advantage of the first leg.

Sébastien Salles-Lamonge was eliminated from the first game against Tigres and did not play in the second leg. His availability for the semi-finals remains questionable; However, Vitinho and Léo Bonatini were a handful for Tigres and will be hoping for a similar performance against the other team from Monterrey.

Martín Anselmi’s team almost missed the best 17-game regular season in Liga MX history in the first 45 minutes of the quarterfinals. Three costly errors led to Tijuana goals, and Jorge Sánchez’s egregious tackle and resulting red card meant Anselmi had to abandon the bus in the second half to avoid further damage.

With their backs against the wall, Cruz Azul managed a comeback that ended up being pretty straightforward.

If you manage to move forward, it will greatly boost the confidence of an already great team. However, América is not Tijuana. Las Águilas have become Cruz Azul’s playoff grim reapers. América dominates the playoff rivalry and has managed to advance to or win the final in the last six playoff meetings between the two teams, including last season’s final.

With striker Guillermo Fernández fully healthy and Sánchez returning from suspension, Cruz Azul has a fully healthy squad to face its biggest rival in a clash it cannot afford to lose.

Are we really surprised that América is back in the semi-finals despite a mediocre regular season? The back-to-back champions made easy work of second-place Toluca in the quarterfinals. André Jardine has not lost a playoff round since arriving at the club in the summer of 2023.

Many wrote off the defending champions over the course of the season; However, when the playoffs began, it was a team that no one wanted to play against. America has also become healthier in recent weeks. Alejandro Zendejas, Henry Martín, Víctor Dávila and Kevin Álvarez are all available after missing large stretches of the regular season. Diego Valdés should also be ready for the semi-finals.

Sure, being the first team to win three championships in a row since the ’80s comes with pressure, but that’s minuscule compared to what Cruz Azul will feel. América could end their city rivals’ record-breaking season, assert their Clásico Joven dominance in the playoffs and continue to amass bragging rights.

Monterrey: Cardenas; Medina, Guzman, Moreno, Arteaga; Rodríguez, Fimbres; Canales, Torres, Ocampos; Bertrame.

Atlético San Luis: Sanchez; Chavez, Domínguez, Águila, Cruz, Sanabria; Macias, Dourado; Vitinho, Salles-Lamonge, Bonatini.

Prediction: Atlético San Luis 2-1 Monterrey

Cruz Azul: Mier; Ditta, Lira, Piovi; Rivero, Faravelli, Romo, Rodriguez, Rotondi; Gutierrez, Giakoumakis.

America: Malagón, Álvarez, Reyes, Juárez, Cáceres, Calderón; Zendejas, Fidalgo, Cervantes, Rodriguez; Aguirre.

Prediction: América 2-3 Cruz Azul

READ THE LATEST LIGA MX NEWS, PREVIEWS, PREDICTIONS, TRANSFER RUMORS AND MORE