Tigres and Monterrey, shown above in a Liga MX match on April 22, 2017, will meet again in the Clausura quarterfinals. (Photo: Andrea Jimenez/Straffon Images)

MONTERREY, Mexico – The match-ups for the 2017 Liga MX Clausura quarterfinals are set with a pair of city rivalries headlining the first round of the Mexican postseason. 

CONCACAF.com takes a look at the four two-legged series that will determine the semifinalists. 

#1 Club Tijuana (9W-4D-4L; 30GF, 22GA) v #8 Morelia (6W-6D-5L; 19GF, 16GA)

  • For the second consecutive season, Club Tijuana reached the 30-point plateau with a 1-0 win over Veracruz on Saturday.
  • With one swing of the foot, Morelia went from being relegated to Ascenso MX to a playoff berth. Raul Ruidiaz’s dramatic game-winner in the second minute of second-half stoppage time the Monarcas past Monterrey on Saturday, 2-1.
  • With his goal, Ruidiaz finished as the top scorer in the 2017 Clausura with nine goals.

#2 Monterrey (7W-6D-4L; 26GF, 18GA) v #7 Tigres (7W-4D-6L; 26GF, 12GA)

  • For the second consecutive Clausura, these two Monterrey city rivals will meet at the quarterfinal stage. In the 2016 Clausura, Monterrey eliminated Tigres, 4-3 on aggregate.
  • Tigres is looking to become Mexico’s first back-to-back champion since Leon won the 2013 Apertura and the 2014 Clausura.
  • There is perhaps no hotter team in Liga MX than Tigres. UANL started the season 1W-1D-4L, but finished 4-1-1 in its last six outings

#3 Guadalajara (7W-6D-4L; 21GF, 18GA) v #6 Atlas (7W-5D-5L; 24GF, 20GA)

  • Atlas is seeking its first Mexican league championship since 1951.
  • While Guadalajara has 11 first-division titles to its name, the club is seeking is first Liga MX crown since the 2006 Apertura.
  • The Guadalajara city rivals met in the 2015 Clausura quarterfinals, with Chivas advancing, 4-1 on aggregate. 

#4 Toluca (8W-3D-6L; 21GF, 20GA) v #5 Santos (5W-11D-1L; 25GF, 20GA)

  • Santos is the first team since Puebla in the 2014 Apertura to finish with at least 10 draws in a season. Puebla finished 15th in the table that season.
  • This is the first playoff match-up between Toluca and Santos since the 2010 Bicentenario final in which Toluca prevailed over Santos, 4-3 on penalties, after a 2-2 aggregate draw.