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
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
All times are UTC−6 except for match in Tijuana
First leg
Second leg
UANL won 7–2 on aggregate.
León won 5–3 on aggregate.
América won 2–1 on aggregate.
Necaxa won 2–1 on aggregate.
Semifinals
All times are UTC−6
First leg
Second leg
UANL won 3–1 on aggregate.
América won 3–1 on aggregate.
Finals
All times are UTC−6
First leg
GK 23 Moisés Muñoz DF 6 Miguel Samudio DF 2 Paolo GoltzDF 12 Pablo AguilarDF 18 Bruno ValdezMF 21 José Guerrero MF 7 WilliamMF 14 Rubens Sambueza (c) MF 30 Renato Ibarra MF 11 Michael Arroyo FW 24 Oribe Peralta Substitutions:GK 1 Hugo GonzálezDF 15 Osmar MaresDF 17 Ventura Alvarado DF 282 Edson Álvarez MF 5 Javier GüémezFW 9 Silvio Romero FW 31 Darwin Quintero Manager: Ricardo La Volpe
GK 1 Nahuel GuzmánDF 6 Jorge Torres NiloDF 3 Juninho (c) DF 4 Hugo Ayala DF 29 Jesús DueñasMF 8 Lucas Zelarrayán MF 19 Guido PizarroMF 20 Javier AquinoMF 18 Ismael Sosa MF 25 Jürgen Damm FW 10 André-Pierre Gignac Substitutions:GK 22 Enrique PalosDF 14 Jorge Iván Estrada DF 24 José Rivas MF 11 Damián ÁlvarezMF 17 José Francisco TorresMF 27 Alberto AcostaFW 9 Andy Delort Manager: Ricardo Ferretti
Assistant referees: Marvin Torrentera (Mexico City) Andres Hernández Delgado (Mexico City) Fourth official: Erick Yair Miranda (Guanajuato)
Second leg
2–2 on aggregate. UANL won 3–0 on penalty kicks.
GK 1 Nahuel GuzmánDF 6 Jorge Torres Nilo DF 3 Juninho (c) DF 4 Hugo Ayala DF 14 Jorge Iván Estrada MF 19 Guido Pizarro MF 29 Jesús DueñasMF 20 Javier Aquino MF 18 Ismael Sosa MF 25 Jürgen Damm FW 10 André-Pierre Gignac Substitutions:GK 22 Enrique PalosDF 24 José Rivas MF 8 Lucas Zelarrayán MF 11 Damián Álvarez MF 27 Alberto Acosta FW 9 Andy DelortFW 33 Julián Quiñones Manager: Ricardo Ferretti
GK 23 Moisés Muñoz DF 6 Miguel Samudio DF 2 Paolo Goltz DF 12 Pablo Aguilar DF 18 Bruno Valdez MF 21 José Guerrero MF 7 WilliamMF 14 Rubens Sambueza (c) MF 30 Renato Ibarra MF 11 Michael Arroyo FW 24 Oribe Peralta Substitutions:GK 1 Hugo GonzálezDF 15 Osmar MaresDF 17 Ventura Alvarado DF 282 Edson Álvarez MF 5 Javier Güémez FW 9 Silvio Romero FW 31 Darwin Quintero Manager: Ricardo La Volpe
Assistant referees: Juan Joel Rangel (Mexico City) Mario Jesús López (Durango) Fourth official: Fernando Guerrero (Mexico City)
Goalscorers 6 goals André-Pierre Gignac (UANL)
3 goals William (América)
2 goals Mauro Boselli (León) Felipe Gallegos (Necaxa) Luis Montes (León) Oribe Peralta (América)
1 goal Edson Álvarez (América) Pablo Barrera (UNAM) Germán Cano (León) Yasser Corona (Tijuana) Jürgen Damm (UANL) Andy Delort (UANL) Jesús Dueñas (UANL) Víctor Guzmán (Pachuca) Fidel Martínez (UNAM) Dayro Moreno (Tijuana) Fernando Navarro (León) Claudio Riaño (Necaxa) Guido Rodríguez (Tijuana) Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara) Ismael Sosa (UANL) Bruno Valdez (América) Lucas Zelarrayán (UANL)
Own goals Darío Verón (for UANL)
References