Atlas vs León - How to watch the return leg of the Liga MX final

December 11, 2021 By Oscar Rojas

Topics: Liga MX, Grita México A2021, Atlas, León, TV Schedules, TV Listings

After a hectic first leg, there will be a new team crowned as champions after Sunday's clash. Follow this game with our detailed guide.

The first tournament of the 2021-22 season in Mexico will enter its final game on Sunday evening when Atlas host León in the return leg of the Liga MX title clash. Los Rojinegros were a bit better than León during the regular season, but Los Esmeraldas have proven to be quite consistent during the postseason, which gives us a hint of what kind of match we can expect.

The first leg of the final was quite an entertaining game to watch. León claimed the win with a 3-2 score after coming from behind twice in the game. The game was sorted out with a penalty kick by Angel Mena, who scored a brace in the dying minutes of the game. The first game has been heralded as one of the best first leg matches of all time, and the second leg is expected to give even more excitement to those in attendance.

Atlas will enter this match trying to end a 70-year drought without a title. Led by Diego Cocca, Atlas ended the regular season in second place, but their run in the playoffs has not been as impressive, with only one win in their five postseason matches. In order to take the title, Atlas will have to win by a two-goal margin, since the away goals rule is no longer under effect and the regular season ranking is also snubbed to determine the champion.

Argentine coach Diego Cocca will have to trust his regular starters for this game, including winger Julian Quiñones, captain Aldo Rocha, striker Julio Furch (who scored a goal in the first leg) and goalkeeper Camilo Vargas. All of these players were right on point with what was expected from them in the first leg with the exception of Vargas,who opened up the chance for León to equalize with a massive mistake that led to the then-hosts second goal. Atlas' chances of success will have a lot to do with how these footballers end up doing their job on the pitch.

On the other side, León get to this game in pole position to win the title despite their narrow lead. First of all, Los Esmeraldas will welcome Osvaldo Rodríguez back in the lineup after serving a one-match ban. On top of that, the team's performances while on the road have been quite effective despite losing both their playoff matches away from home. León have been capable to win titles playing on the road, and this time, holding on to their lead could be enough to add one more star to their badge.

Angel Mena and Victor Dávila will be the go-to men for Ariel Holan and his team. Both strikers scored during the first leg of the final, and it's safe to say that León's hopes for success could rely heavily on their performances. Other players that could have a major role in the outcome of the game are Jean Meneses, defender William Tesillo and goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota.

Atlas vs León - Head-to-head stats

The most recent game between these teams prior to the final saw Atlas claim a two-nil win over León.
The last five games at Estadio Jalisco between Los Rojinegros and León have ended with two wins for Atlas, one draw, and two wins for León.
León's last win at Atlas' stadium took place on April 10, 2021. That match concluded with a 3-1 score for Los Esmeraldas.
Atlas have only won one of their last four home games. Their most recent victory came on Matchday 17, when they defeated Querétaro 2-0.
León have also struggled to win games on the road recently, with only one victory (vs Puebla back in October) in their last four matches including playoffs.