Clausura MX 2025: Play-In Preview

We’ve reached the end of the regular phase of the Clausura MX 2025, where 10 teams have qualified for the finals, although four of them will have to go through the Play-In, from which only two will move on to the quarterfinals.

The Play-In format pits the seventh and eighth seeds against each other in a single-match showdown—this time, Monterrey vs. Pachuca. The winner will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the loser will get a second chance by facing the winner of Juárez vs. Pumas, who finished ninth and tenth, respectively.

The higher-seeded team will play at home, and in the event of a draw, the match will go to penalties.

Clausura MX Play-In: Juárez vs. Pumas

Juárez and Pumas are aiming for a heroic run. They need to win this match and then defeat the loser of the other bracket to reach the quarterfinals, where Toluca—the best team of the regular season—is waiting. The ‘Bravos’ will play at home thanks to finishing ninth, placing them higher than the ‘Felinos’ (10th).

Martín Varini’s team isn’t coming in at the best moment. After three straight draws, they lost at home in their last game against Querétaro (0-2) and had defender Moisés Mosquera sent off, so he’ll miss Sunday’s match. The only bright spot was the return of Diego Valoyes, who made his comeback after being injured since January 29.

With just 16 goals scored, they’re the third-worst attack in the tournament—only ahead of Santos (15) and Puebla (12), who sit at the bottom of the table. Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Castilho has been their standout player in that department, with four goals and one assist.

On Pumas’ side, they barely made it in. They lost their final game 2-1 to Tigres and secured the last spot thanks to Chivas drawing 1-1 with Atlas. That result left both teams tied at 21 points and a -3 goal difference, but Pumas had 23 goals scored compared to Guadalajara’s 18.

As visitors, they recorded three wins and five losses, dropping their last two road games. Ignacio Pussetto leads the team in scoring with five goals, followed by Guillermo Martínez with four—he’s found the net in the last two matches.

These two teams recently met on April 12 in Mexico City, ending in a 0-0 draw.

Juárez vs. Pumas Betting Pick: Draw

Clausura MX Play-In: Monterrey x Pachuca

This is a great matchup in the Play-In between two teams that could easily contend for the Clausura MX title. Monterrey hosts Pachuca with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. The winner will face América in the next round, while the loser gets a second chance and will play the winner of the other Play-In match.

Monterrey was built to fight for the top spot, but they struggled and only secured their place in the final phase during the last few weeks—and not directly. They come into this game after beating León 0-2 on the road and previously defeating América 1-0 at home, two top-six teams, which gives them momentum.

The bad news for Martín Demichelis concerns his Spanish trio. Sergio Canales and Óliver Torres are in recovery, and it’s unclear if they’ll be fit for Sunday, while Sergio Ramos left the León game with some discomfort and will undergo tests to determine his condition.

Pachuca, on the other hand, wasted their chance to finish in the top six and qualify directly. First, they drew 0-0 at home against Tigres, then lost to San Luis 2-1 over the weekend. Not only are they stuck in the Play-In, but they’ll have to play on the road.

It’s been a great season for forwards Salomón Rondón and John Kennedy, both with nine goals, although the Brazilian has gone five games without scoring.

These teams already met in this same stadium on January 25, with the ‘Tuzos’ winning 2-3 thanks to goals from Oussama Idrissi, Rondón, and Kennedy—the star trio coached by Guillermo Almada.

Monterrey vs. Pachuca Betting Pick: Draw