Liga MX: Chivas start ‘King Midas’ era with triumph

Scoring droughts, goleadores and table-toppers

Liga MX teams can catch their breath for a bit after a midweek matchday forced all 18 teams to play three games over an 11-day period. UNAM and Necaxa each went undefeated and picked up 5 points. Here are a few other numbers from a busy early-season stretch.

316

Minutes between goals for Tijuana, a dry spell that came to an end on Monday night just before halftime when Brayan Angulo scored from the penalty spot. The Xolos’ previous goal came all the way back on Matchday 1 when Atlas defender Hugo Nervo scored into his own net. You have to go back a further 40 minutes to find the last time a Xolos player (Jordi Cortizo) actually scored, a stretch of futility that reached 356 minutes.

11

The number of goals scored by América, tops in Liga MX through five games.

10

Points earned by América, Cruz Azul and León. The Aguilas and Cementeros have a +4 differential with the former on top with more goals scored (11 to 8), while the Esmeraldas have a measly +1 differential.

5

Goals scored by Juan Dinenno (Pumas), Alexis Canelo (Toluca) and André-Pierre Gignac, the top scorers in Liga MX through five games.

4

The number of Tigres goalies that were sidelined by coronavirus for Sunday’s match at Toluca. Coach “Tuca” Ferretti had to re-sign 20-year-old Carlos Galindo who had been released by the Tigres in June because he was on the verge of aging out of the club’s Under-20 team and he was not deemed good enough for the senior squad.

1

Points earned by Rubén Duarte in two games as interim coach for Atlas. The Zorros fired Rafa Puente Jr after their Matchday 3 tie against Atlético de San Luis, dropping his record to 1-1-7 as boss. Duarte was on the sidelines for the Zorros 2-1 loss to Toluca and Sunday’s scoreless draw against Santos. Former player Diego Cocca takes over as the new coach beginning with Saturday’s tilt against Querétaro.