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Power Rankings: Cruz Azul tops Liga MX, Chivas on rise

By Thomas Buckley

J.J. Macías arrived to Guadalajara in January 2020 with such high expectations it was always going to be difficult to live up to them. (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images)
J.J. Macías arrived to Guadalajara in January 2020 with such high expectations it was always going to be difficult to live up to them. (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Liga MX rankings 9
Jonathan Rodríguez (#21) scored his league-leading 9th goal of the season and added an assist to lead Cruz Azul to a 4-2 victory over Tijuana. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /

Chivas, Pachuca scale 4 spots, while Santos, Necaxa and FC Juárez take big tumbles. And the reigning Liga MX champs?

We’re just past the halfway point of the Clausura 2020, but if the Liga MX season ended today there would be five new teams in the playoffs.

The Bravos (No. 6), Gallos Blancos (No. 7) and Tuzos (No. 8) were not thought to be contenders this season, but after 9 weeks each club has 4 wins and only three teams have more. Those three teams would be the Cementeros (No. 1), América (No. 2) and León (No. 3).

A five-game win streak has Cruz Azul atop the table, while reigning champs Monterrey are winless and nailed to the cellar door. Last season’s top seed – Santos – is also on the outside looking in, coming in at No. 9.

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Without further ado, here are the Playing for 90 Power Rankings. The figure in parentheses indicates where each team was ranked last week. For example, a “+1” means the team climbed up one spot, a “-2” means the club dropped two spots, and a “–” means the ranking is unchanged from last week.

1. Cruz Azul, 19 points (–)

The highest-scoring Liga MX team lost another regular to injury in practice the day before its 4-2 home win over Tijuana as midfielder Yoshima Yotún reinjured his foot. The Peru international joins defenders Pablo Aguilar and Igor Lichnovsky and striker Milton Caraglio in the hospital ward just as the Cementeros embark upon a critical three-game stretch

Cruz Azul is in Los Angeles to play LAFC in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals, returning home to clash with América in league play on Sunday. The Cementeros go right from Mexico City’s Junior Classic to a return match against LAFC in Estadio Azteca on March 18.

If La Máquina survive this gauntlet, they’ll be a team to be reckoned with come playoff time.

2. América, 17 points (–)

The Aguilas survived a visit to UNAM on grit and determination, giving up 3 goals but stealing out of the CU with a valuable point. Coach Miguel Herrera is surely working to keep his club’s focus on the field and not on the drama involving winger Renato Ibarra, jailed this past weekend over domestic abuse allegations. América also has Concachampions duty sandwiching the huge match against Cruz Azul. The Aguilas host Atlanta United Wednesday and play the second leg in Georgia on March 18.

3. León, 18 points (+2)

The Esmeraldas exploded for 4 second-half goals at FC Juárez, obliterating a 1-0 deficit after minute 67. Angel Mena led the comeback, fit again after missing the team’s embarrassing 3-0 loss at LAFC in the Concacaf Champions League Round of 16. Joel Campbell returned from a lengthy injury absence to add a goal and an assist as a late substitute. With only the Liga MX trophy to play for, coach Ignacio Ambriz can focus on earning a good playoff seed. When healthy, this team features the most entertaining offense in Liga MX.

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