If the recent soccer World Cup whetted your appetite to see more of Mexico’s national sport then Guadalajara provides plenty options.
Three professional teams – Chivas, Atlas and the Universidad de Guadalajara Leones – play in the top league, the Liga MX, whose season runs from August to December.
The 18 teams play each other once in the regular season, with the top eight qualifying for the playoffs, which take place in December. The quarters, semis and final are decided in a two-game series.
Two rounds of the “Apetrura 2014” season have already been played with moved fortunes for the local teams. Surprisingly, perennial underachievers Atlas have got off to their best start for several years, with one win and one tie, in fourth place in the league table, lying just above Chivas on the same number of points, Unfortunately, the UdeG Leones – back in the top flight of Mexican soccer after a two-decade absence – lost both their opening games and languish at the bottom of the table.
While soccer is well supported in Guadalajara, only a few games actually sell out. Tickets are usually hard to come by for the local “derby” between Atlas and Chivas, and there’s rarely a empty seat at the Chivas-America “Clasico” but are easily available for most other games. They can either be purchased online through Ticketmaster, at club stores, licensed sales points or at the stadiums ahead of kickoff.
Liga MX ‘Apertura 2014’ games in Guadalajara
Atlas vs. Chiapas Saturday, August 2, 9 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
UDG Leones vs. Toluca Sunday, August 10, 5 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Atlas vs. UDG Leones Saturday, August 16, 9 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Chivas vs. Santos Sunday, August 17, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
UDG Leones vs. Leon Sunday, August 24, 5 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Atlas vs. Santos Saturday, August 30, 9 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Chivas vs. Cruz Azul Sunday, August 31, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
Chivas vs. UDG Leones Sunday, September 7, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
UDG Leones vs. America Saturday, September 13, 7 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Atlas vs. Cruz Azul Saturday, September 20, 9 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Chivas vs. Queretero Sunday, September 21, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
UDG Leones vs. Morelia Sunday, September 28, 5 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Chivas vs. Puebla Sunday, September 28, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
Atlas vs. Queretero Tuesday, September 30, noon Estadio Jalisco
UDG Leones vs. Pumas Sunday, October 5, 5 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Chivas vs. Atlas Sunday, October 5, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
Atlas vs. Queretero Saturday, October 18, 9 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Atlas vs. Puebla Saturday, October 25, 9 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Chivas vs. Tijuana Sunday, October 26, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
UDG Leones vs. Santos Sunday, November 2, 5 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Atlas vs. Tijuana Saturday, November 8, 9 p.m. Estadio Jalisco
Chivas vs. Tigres Sunday, November 9, 5 p.m. Estadio Omnilife
UDG Leones vs. Cruz Azul Sunday, November 23, 5 p.m. Estadio Jalisco