InterLiga
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| InterLiga | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Sport | Football |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Inaugural season | 2004 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country |  Mexico |
| Current champions | Necaxa |
| Official website | interliga.com |
The InterLiga is a football competition between Mexican clubs to determine qualifying spots for that country in South America's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores.
Prior to the 2004 Copa Libertadores, Mexican clubs competed in two levels of competition—first against one another, and then against clubs from Venezuela—for spots in the main competition. In 2004, Mexico and Venezuela were granted automatic entries to the Copa Libertadores for the first time. The Mexican Football Federation decided to create a qualifying league for its two automatic spots, and the first InterLiga was held that January, during the off-season of the Primera División de México.
The eight qualifying teams were selected based on their combined results in the Apertura and Clausura phases of the Primera División, and divided into two groups of four, with even-numbered seeds in one group and odd-numbered seeds in the other. Each group was conducted as a single round-robin league. In order to assure a more neutral environment, and to take advantage of a large and relatively well-off pool of Mexican football fans, all matches were held in the United States in California and Texas, two states with large Mexican populations (which has brought up many controversies). The winners of each group then played in a final for one of the two Libertadores berths. The loser of the final had a second chance to earn the other berth, as it would compete in a play-in game against the winner of a match against the two second-place finishers from each group.
The actual league champions are currently excluded from the InterLiga as they qualify for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, which is contested during the same time period as the Libertadores, and whose prize is a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup. Mexican teams would not be eligible for the latter competition if they won the Libertadores because Mexico belongs to CONCACAF.
Contents |
[edit] Tournaments
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Santos Laguna | América |
| 2005 | Tigres UANL | Guadalajara |
| 2006 | Tigres UANL | Guadalajara |
| 2007 | Necaxa | America |
Note: After both finals have been played, both winners qualify to Copa Libertadores, but the winner with the best performance int he group stage becomes champion. Since 2005, when Mexico gained a third spot (dubbed "Mexico 3") to play in the pre-group stage of the Copa Libertadores, the runner-up has been "Mexico 3". "Mexico 1", who qualifies directly to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, has been chosen in a match between the two champions of the year preceding the previous, independent from the Interliga. "Mexico 2" is the Interliga champion and also qualifies directly to the group stage.
[edit] Participations
- Tigres UANL: 4 (2004,2005,2006,2007)
- Guadalajara: 3 (2004,2005,2006)
- América: 3 (2004,2005,2007)
- Necaxa:3 (2005,2006,2007)
- Monarcas Morelia: 3 (2004,2006,2007)
- Santos Laguna: 2 (2004,2005)
- Toluca: 2 (2004,2005)
- Atlante: 2 (2004,2005)
- Jaguares: 2 (2005,2007)
- Monterrey: 2 (2006,2007)
- Cruz Azul: 2 (2006,2007)
- Atlas: 1 (2004)
- Pachuca: 1 (2006)
- Veracruz: 1 (2006)
- Tecos UAG: 1 (2007)
[edit] History Topscorers
| Pos | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Reinaldo Navia |
9 |
| 2 | Aldo de Nigris |
6 |
| 2 | Cuauhtemoc Blanco |
6 |
| 3 | Adolfo Bautista |
5 |
| 4 |  Kléber Boas |
5 |
| 4 | Omar Bravo |
5 |
| 4 |  Walter Gaitán |
5 |
As January 13th, 2007
[edit] 2005 Tournament
For 2005, Mexico was granted a third berth in the Libertadores. The Mexican federation decided to grant one of its Libertadores berths ("Mexico 1") based strictly on play during the league season, but retained InterLiga for the other two spots ("Mexico 2" and "Mexico 3"). The group phase of InterLiga remained the same as in 2004, but the final games were changed. The top team from each group plays the second-place team from the opposite group, with both winners advancing to Copa Libertadores. Of the two final winners, the one with the highest point total during group play will be designated "Mexico 2" and automatically advance to the group stage. The other final winner will be "Mexico 3", and will enter the preliminary round of Copa Libertadores.
The 2005 InterLiga was again played in California and Texas, and expanded into Arizona. The finals were held January 12 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
The eight qualified clubs participated in the following groups:
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| UANL | Chiapas |
| Guadalajara | Toluca |
| Atlante | America |
| Santos | Necaxa |
[edit] Match Schedule
Matches at Bank One Ballpark (Phoenix, Arizona)
| 1. | 2 Jan 05 | Guadalajara vs Santos | 1-1 |
| 2. | 2 Jan 05 | UANL vs Atlante | 2-1 |
Matches at The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)
| 3. | 2 Jan 05 | Necaxa vs Chiapas | 0-4 |
| 4. | 2 Jan 05 | América vs Toluca | 1-2 |
| 9. | 8 Jan 05 | Atlante vs Santos | 4-4 |
| 10. | 8 Jan 05 | Guadalajara vs UANL | 1-0 |
Matches at Spartan Stadium (San Jose, California)
| 5. | 5 Jan 05 | Santos vs UANL | 3-4 |
| 6. | 5 Jan 05 | Atlante vs Guadalajara | 3-3 |
Matches at Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas)
| 7. | 6 Jan 05 | Toluca vs Necaxa | 2-0 |
| 8. | 6 Jan 05 | Chiapas vs América | 1-2 |
Matches at Cotton Bowl (Dallas, Texas)
| 11. | 9 Jan 05 | América vs Necaxa | 2-2 |
| 12. | 9 Jan 05 | Toluca vs Chiapas | 1-2 |
Matches at Reliant Stadium (Houston, Texas)
| 13. | 12 Jan 05 | Final 1: UANL vs Toluca | 2-0 |
| 14. | 12 Jan 05 | Final 2: Guadalajara vs Chiapas | 1-1 (5-3) |
[edit] 2006 Tournament
America was originally set to participate in the 2006 InterLiga tournament, but their 2005 clausura championship qualified the team for the 2006 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. Therefore, the club was replaced by Cruz Azul. The teams Tigres and Chivas de Guadalajara qualified to Copa Libertadores 2006
[edit] Groups
[edit] Group A
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veracruz | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| Monterrey | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| Pachuca | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Monarcas Morelia | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
[edit] Group B
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tigres | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 |
| Guadalajara | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | +2 |
| Necaxa | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | -5 |
[edit] Match Schedule
Matches at Reliant Stadium (Houston, Texas)
| 1. | 4 Jan 06 | Cruz Azul vs Necaxa | 0-1 |
| 2. | 4 Jan 06 | UANL vs Guadalajara | 3-5 |
Matches at La Joya Stadium (La Joya, Texas)
| 3. | 5 Jan 06 | Pachuca vs Veracruz | 2-3 |
| 4. | 5 Jan 06 | Monterrey vs Morelia | 2-2 |
Matches at Pizza Hut Park (Frisco, Texas)
| 5. | 7 Jan 06 | Necaxa vs UANL | 2-3 |
| 6. | 7 Jan 06 | Guadalajara vs Cruz Azul | 2-2 |
| 7. | 8 Jan 06 | Morelia vs Pachuca | 1-2 |
| 8. | 8 Jan 06 | Veracruz vs Monterrey | 1-2 |
Matches at The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)
| 9. | 10 Jan 06 | Tigres vs Cruz Azul | 4-0 |
| 10. | 10 Jan 06 | Necaxa vs Guadalajara | 1-1 |
| 11. | 11 Jan 06 | Morelia vs Veracruz | 0-1 |
| 12. | 11 Jan 06 | Monterrey vs Pachuca | 1-1 |
| 13. | 15 Jan 06 | Final 1: UANL vs Monterrey | 2-1 aet |
| 14. | 15 Jan 06 | Final 2: Veracruz vs Guadalajara | 1-2 |
[edit] 2007 Tournament
The tournament has begun the January 3rd and will give two places in the Copa Libertadores 2007. Eight teams participate in this tournament
[edit] Groups
[edit] Group A
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Necaxa | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | +3 |
| UANL | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| Monterrey | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| Cruz Azul | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
[edit] Group B
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| América | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 |
| Chiapas | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Morelia | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
| UAG | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | -2 |
[edit] Match Schedule
Matches at Robertson Stadium (Houston, Texas)
3-12-1
| 1. | 3 Jan 07 | Monterrey vs UANL | 0-2 |
| 2. | 3 Jan 07 | Cruz Azul vs Necaxa | 2-3 |
| 3. | 4 Jan 07 | Chiapas vs Morelia | 2-1 |
| 4. | 4 Jan 07 | América vs UAG | 1-1 |
Matches at Pizza Hut Park (Frisco, Texas)
| 5. | 6 Jan 07 | UANL vs Cruz Azul | 2-2 |
| 6. | 6 Jan 07 | Necaxa vs Monterrey | 3-2 |
| 7. | 7 Jan 07 | Morelia vs América | 0-2 |
| 8. | 7 Jan 07 | Chiapas vs UAG | 2-2 |
Matches at The Home Depot Center (Carson, California)
| 9. | 9 Jan 07 | Necaxa vs UANL | 1-0 |
| 10. | 9 Jan 07 | Monterrey vs Cruz Azul | 1-0 |
| 11. | 10 Jan 07 | Morelia vs UAG | 3-1 |
| 12. | 10 Jan 07 | América vs Chiapas | 1-0 |
| 13. | 13 Jan 07 | Final 1: Necaxa vs Chiapas | 1-0 |
| 14. | 13 Jan 07 | Final 2: América vs UANL | 0-0 (4-2) |
[edit] External links
- Official site (in Spanish and English)
