Liga Nacional: How Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals Resolve Ties

The Liga Nacional’s Apertura 2025 tournament has advanced to the quarterfinal stage, showcasing intense matches among the top teams. The first leg of the quarterfinals kicked off with Mictlán hosting Municipal at La Asunción Stadium. This encounter ended in favor of the escarlatas, with a score of 0-1, placing them in a strong position for a semifinal berth.

Following that match, Malacateco faced off against Aurora, securing a 1-0 victory as the home team. Meanwhile, Achuapa delivered an exciting match against Deportivo Mixco, winning 3-2 and aiming to eliminate the chicharroneros from the competition. The last match of the first leg saw Xelajú triumph over Antigua GFC with a score of 1-0 at the Mario Camposeco Stadium.

Liga Nacional: Resolving Ties in Apertura 2025 Quarterfinals

With the first leg completed, attention now turns to the return matches. Teams that fell behind will need to pursue goals aggressively from the outset to advance in the tournament. A key question arises: What criteria determine the outcome in the event of a tie over the two legs?

Quarterfinals Tie-Breaking Criteria

The Liga Nacional has established a clear regulation for resolving ties during the quarterfinals and semifinals. The criteria are as follows:

• Goal Difference: The team with the better goal difference—goals scored minus goals conceded—will advance.
• Position in Standings: If the goal difference is equal, the team better positioned in the league table will qualify.

For example, if Municipal wins the first leg against Mictlán 0-1 and Mictlán wins the second leg 1-0, the aggregate score would be 1-1. However, Municipal would advance due to their superior position in the league table. Hence, Mictlán must win by at least two goals to proceed to the next round.

Upcoming Return Matches

The return matches for the quarterfinals are scheduled as follows:

The stage is set for thrilling encounters as teams battle to secure their places in the semifinals of the Apertura 2025. Each match promises to deliver excitement and unpredictability, with qualifications hinging on both skill and strategy.