Two legs, 180 minutes, one winner. The champion of the 2011 Mexican Primera Division Clausura will be decided in the Liguilla final between Monarcas Morelia and Pumas UNAM beginning tonight with Pumas in Morelia for the final's first leg. Pumas are the second-seeded team, having defeated Monterrey and Chivas Guadalajara to get to the final. Morelia are the third-seeded team, having defeated Atlante and Cruz Azul to get here.
For Morelia to get the result they want at home, they will need a sterling performance from Elias Hernandez. He has the ability to make incredible and almost unbelievable plays and with Pumas strong at the back, Morelia might need a few plays like that. Pumas will depend on Francisco Palencia, the midfielder who refuses to age and amazingly can still dictate tempo in the midfield as if it were 1999.
Monarcas Morelia lineup (4-4-2): Vilar; Aldrete, Huiqui, Arias, Perez; Rojas, Ramirez, Gastelum, Hernandez; Perez, Marquez
Pumas UNAM lineup (3-4-1-2): A. Palacios; Fuentes, M. Palacios, Veron; Velarde, Cabrera, Castro, Cortes; Palencia; Bravo, Lopez