The Apertura 2016 Liga MX championship stage commonly known as liguilla (mini league) was being played from November 23 to December 25. A total of eight teams were competing in the championship stage to decide the champions of the Apertura 2016 Liga MX season. Both finalists qualified to the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League.
Qualified teams
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tijuana | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 25 | 13 | +12 | 33 | 
| 2 | Pachuca | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 21 | +15 | 31 | 
| 3 | UANL | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 30 | 
| 4 | Guadalajara | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 28 | 
| 5 | América | 17 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 28 | 
| 6 | UNAM | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 28 | 22 | +6 | 27 | 
| 7 | Necaxa | 17 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 26 | 
| 8 | León | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 26 | 
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results between tied teams; 5) Number of goals scored away; 6) Highest relegation coefficient; 7) Fair Play points
Format
- Teams are re-seeded each round.
- Team with more goals on aggregate after two matches advancef.
- Away goals rule is applied in the quarterfinals and semifinals, but not the final.
- In the quarterfinals and semifinals, if the two teams were tied on aggregate and away goals, the higher seeded team advanced.
- In the final, if the two teams were tied after both legs, the match went to extra time and, if necessary, a shoot-out.
- Both finalists qualified to the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League (in Pot 3).
Bracket
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | UANL | 2 | 5 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 | UNAM | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | UANL | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | León | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Tijuana | 0 | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 8 | León | 3 | 2 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 | UANL (p) | 1 | 1 | 2 (3) | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | América | 1 | 1 | 2 (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Guadalajara | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | América | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 5 | América | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Necaxa | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Pachuca | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Necaxa | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
Quarterfinals
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| León | 5–3 | Tijuana | 3–0 | 2–3 | 
| UNAM | 2–7 | UANL | 2–2 | 0–5 | 
| Necaxa | 2–1 | Pachuca | 2–1 | 0–0 | 
| América | 2–1 | Guadalajara | 1–1 | 1–0 | 
All times are UTC−6 except for match in Tijuana
First leg
| UNAM | 2–2 | UANL | 
|---|---|---|
| Barrera  36' (pen.) Martínez  66' | Report | Sosa  8' Damm  48' | 
Second leg
| UANL | 5–0 | UNAM | 
|---|---|---|
| Gignac  4', 75', 79' Verón  26' (o.g.) Delort  89' | Report | 
UANL won 7–2 on aggregate.
León won 5–3 on aggregate.
| Guadalajara | 0–1 | América | 
|---|---|---|
| Report | Peralta  55' | 
América won 2–1 on aggregate.
Necaxa won 2–1 on aggregate.
Semifinals
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| León | 1–3 | UANL | 0–1 | 1–2 | 
| Necaxa | 1–3 | América | 1–1 | 0–2 | 
All times are UTC−6
First leg
Second leg
| UANL | 2–1 | León | 
|---|---|---|
| Gignac  45+2' Zelarrayán  78' | Report | Montes  17' | 
UANL won 3–1 on aggregate.
América won 3–1 on aggregate.
Finals
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| América | 2–2 (0–3 p) | UANL | 1–1 | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | 
All times are UTC−6
First leg
| 
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Assistant referees:
Marvin Torrentera (Mexico City)
Andres Hernández Delgado (Mexico City)
Fourth official:
Erick Yair Miranda (Guanajuato)
Second leg
| UANL | 1–1 (a.e.t.) | América | 
|---|---|---|
| Dueñas  119' | Report | Álvarez  95' | 
| Penalties | ||
| Gignac  Juninho  Pizarro  | 3–0 |  William  Romero  Güémez | 
2–2 on aggregate. UANL won 3–0 on penalty kicks.
| 
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Assistant referees:
Juan Joel Rangel (Mexico City)
Mario Jesús López (Durango)
Fourth official:
Fernando Guerrero (Mexico City)
| Apertura 2016 winners | 
|---|
| UANL 5th title | 
Goalscorers
- 6 goals
- 3 goals
- 2 goals
- 1 goal
 Edson Álvarez (América) Edson Álvarez (América)
 Pablo Barrera (UNAM) Pablo Barrera (UNAM)
 Germán Cano (León) Germán Cano (León)
 Yasser Corona (Tijuana) Yasser Corona (Tijuana)
 Jürgen Damm (UANL) Jürgen Damm (UANL)
 Andy Delort (UANL) Andy Delort (UANL)
 Jesús Dueñas (UANL) Jesús Dueñas (UANL)
 Víctor Guzmán (Pachuca) Víctor Guzmán (Pachuca)
 Fidel Martínez (UNAM) Fidel Martínez (UNAM)
 Dayro Moreno (Tijuana) Dayro Moreno (Tijuana)
 Fernando Navarro (León) Fernando Navarro (León)
 Claudio Riaño (Necaxa) Claudio Riaño (Necaxa)
 Guido Rodríguez (Tijuana) Guido Rodríguez (Tijuana)
 Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara) Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara)
 Ismael Sosa (UANL) Ismael Sosa (UANL)
 Bruno Valdez (América) Bruno Valdez (América)
 Lucas Zelarrayán (UANL) Lucas Zelarrayán (UANL)
- Own goals
 Darío Verón (for UANL) Darío Verón (for UANL)
References
- ↑ "LIGA MX - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional".
- 1 2 "América vs. Tigres UANL - 23 December 2016 - Soccerway".
- 1 2 "LIGA MX - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional".
- 1 2 "Tigres UANL vs. América - 26 December 2016 - Soccerway".
- 1 2 "LIGA MX - Página Oficial de la Liga Mexicana del Fútbol Profesional".
































