Primera División de México Clausura 2008 explained

Season:2007−08
Winners:Santos Laguna (3rd title)
League Topscorer:Humberto Suazo (13 goals)
Nextseason:Apertura 2008

Primera División de México (Mexican First Division) Clausura 2008 was a Mexican football tournament - the second of two tournaments held in the 2007-08 season. It began January 18, 2008 and ran until June 1, 2008. Veracruz and Morelia inaugurated the season, with Morelia winning 1–0. Reigning champions Atlante F.C. were eliminated from making the Liguilla with a 3-2 loss to Monterrey and thus could not defend their title, and Veracruz was relegated to the Primera División A after finishing last on the percentage table. Six teams qualified directly to the Liguilla (playoffs) by finishing in the top two of their respective groups, and these are the teams of Toluca, Jaguares, Santos Laguna, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Cruz Azul. Four teams advanced to what is known as the Repechaje (playoff qualifiers), and these are being San Luis, Pachuca, Necaxa, and Atlas.

On June 1, 2008 Santos Laguna beat Cruz Azul on 3-2 aggregate to win the Clausura 2008 trophy. This was the club's third championship victory.

Overview

TeamCityStadium
AméricaMexico CityAzteca
AtlanteCancún, Quintana RooAndrés Quintana Roo
AtlasGuadalajara, JaliscoJalisco
ChiapasTuxtla Gutiérrez, ChiapasVíctor Manuel Reyna
Cruz AzulMexico CityAzul
GuadalajaraGuadalajara, JaliscoJalisco
MoreliaMorelia, MichoacánMorelos
MonterreyMonterrey, Nuevo LeónTecnológico
NecaxaAguascalientes, AguascalientesVictoria
PachucaPachuca, HidalgoHidalgo
PachucaPuebla, PueblaCuauhtémoc
San LuisSan Luis Potosí, S.L.P.Alfonso Lastras
Santos LagunaTorreón, CoahuilaCorona
TolucaToluca, State of MexicoNemesio Díez
UAGZapopan, JaliscoTres de Marzo
UANLSan Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo LeónUniversitario
UNAMMexico CityOlímpico Universitario
VeracruzVeracruz, VeracruzLuis "Pirata" Fuente

Final standings (Groups)

Last updated May 4, 2008

Top goalscorers

Players sorted first by goals scored, then by last name. Only regular season goals listed.

RankPlayerClubGoals
align=center rowspan=11 Humberto SuazoMonterreyalign=center rowspan=113
align=center rowspan=32 ItamarChiapasalign=center rowspan=310
Esteban SolariUNAM
Vicente Matías VuosoSantos Laguna
align=center rowspan=35 Omar BravoGuadalajaraalign=center rowspan=39
Claudio GrafVeracruz
Sergio SantanaGuadalajara
align=center rowspan=28 Christian BenítezSantos Lagunaalign=center rowspan=28
Álvaro GonzálezPuebla
align=center rowspan=110 Giancarlo MaldonadoAtlantealign=center rowspan=17

Source: MedioTiempo

Playoffs

Repechage

2–2 on aggregate. San Luis advanced for being the higher seeded team.----

1–1 on aggregate. Necaxa advanced for being the higher seeded team.

Quarterfinals

2–2 on aggregate. Cruz Azul advanced for being the higher seeded team.----

Monterrey won 8–5 on aggregate.----

2–2 on aggregate. San Luis advanced for being the higher seeded team.----

Santos Laguna won 3–2 on aggregate.

Semifinals

Cruz Azul won 2–1 on aggregate.----

3–3 on aggregate. Santos Laguna advanced for being the higher seeded team.

Finals

Santos Laguna won 3–2 on aggregate.

By winning Clausura 2008, Santos earned a berth in the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage.

By being the Clausura 2008 runner-up, Cruz Azul earned a berth in the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round.

Relegation table

Pos !TeamTotal PtsGamesP/G
1Cruz Azul1741021.7059
2Pachuca1701021.6667
3Guadalajara1631021.5980
4Toluca1611021.5784
5América1551021.5196
6San Luis1441021.4118
7Santos Laguna1401021.3725
8Chiapas1391021.3627
9Monterrey1371021.3431
10Atlante1361021.3333
11UNAM1311021.2843
12Necaxa1281021.2549
13Atlas1281021.2549
14Morelia1281021.2549
15UAG1181021.1569
16UANL1151021.1275
17Puebla38341.1176
18Veracruz1081021.0588

External links