Liga MX Power Rankings: Cementeros ascend to top spot

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América’s Bruno Valdez clutches his injured leg. (Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

Upsets, injuries prompt significant movement after Week 6

Early season is the time for surprises as teams are adapting to new teammates or getting comfortable with new coaching tactics. The Liga MX is no different and the Guardianes 2020 figures to see even more fits and starts as everybody tries to figure out how to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Matchday 6 provided us with a perfect example of this uncertainty as Querétaro walked right into a trap after two impressive wins, Tijuana overcame some roster turmoil to claim its first won, León still can’t figure out how to score and last week’s No. 1 took a big body blow.

The unpredictability in the Liga MX is reflected in big rises (Monterrey climbed 7 spots) and severe tumbles (Querétaro fell 8 spots and Puebla 5).

Top-ranked América lost to Monterrey but it suffered an even bigger loss when defender Bruno Valdez went down with a season-ending knee injury. The Aguilas tumbled only three spots but the Paraguayan hard man’s absence could upset the club’s equilibrium for weeks to come.

Title favorites Tigres again fell victim to a set piece, giving up a late equalizer to visiting Pumas after the northerners squandered numerous opportunities to pit the game to bed.

Another playoff hopeful – the Chivas – was shaken by insubordination as two stars were suspended after being caught partying – and ignoring health protocols – just two nights before game day.

And let’s not forget that the Liga MX transfer window remains open through Sept. 5, so roster shuffling could complicate team chemistry through mid-September. As such, it should be no surprise if we get into October before dramatic movement in the Power Rankings is not so commonplace.

So without further ado, here are the Liga MX Power Rankings after Matchday 6. The figure in parentheses after the team name reflects club movement in relation to the previous rankings. The second line features total points, record (wins-ties-losses), followed by Goals For and Goals Against.

1. Cruz Azul (+1)

13 points, 4-1-1, 11 GF, 5 GA

The Cementeros were helped by two blown penalty kicks but Robert Siboldi’s club appears to be finding the rhythm that saw them rise to the top of the standings last season. Their defense was caught out a few times, but Jesús Corona bailed them out time and again. With Pablo Aguilar almost ready to return, the errors on the back line should be reduced.

2. Toluca (+1)

12 points, 4-0-2, 11 GF, 10 GA

The Diablos are certainly ranked too high but no club has more wins than they do and results will be rewarded here. Two straight wins against title contenders (Tigres and Chivas) suggest the “Choriceros” could be for real. Even bigger, Luis García posted his first clean sheet as the heir apparent to Alfredo Talavera between the pipes.

3. Monterrey (+7)

9 points, 2-3-1, 10 GF, 7 GA

Have the Rayados finally shaken their championship hangover? Saturday’s impressive 3-1 win over América gives coach Antonio Mohamed some breathing room, but it was still only the club’s second win of 2020. With struggling Tijuana and lowly Atlas up next, Monterrey must make clear their title aspirations now.

4. América (–3)

10 points, 3-1-2, 12 GF, 10GA

The Aguilas have lost two straight and must figure out how to replace their defensive stud Bruno Valdez. With 13 days left in the transfer window, they could look abroad for a replacement. Team Mexico regulars Néstor Araujo (Spain’s Celta Vigo) and Héctor Moreno (Qatar’s Al-Gharafa) are possibilities as is Argentine Alan Franco (Club Independiente).

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