Liga MX Power Rankings: Cementeros ascend to top spot
A Liga MX feline trio followed by naughty Goats
León and the Tigres figure to be fighting for a first-round bye in the playoffs but both are off to uninspiring starts. Meanwhile, the misbehaving Chivas are their own worst enemies.
5. León (+1)
11 points, 3-2-1, 4 GF, 3 GA
The Esmeraldas boast the stingiest defense in Liga MX, but nobody has scored fewer goals and that combination has produced two scoreless draws for Ignacio Ambriz’s men. León is still trying to figure out how to replace J.J. Macías up front and forwards Angel Mena and Joel Campbell are firing blanks.
6. Tigres (–3)
9 points, 2-3-1, 9 GF, 6 GA
This is becoming a familiar refrain for the Tigres: sleepwalk through the early part of the season and then turn it on down the stretch. This approach has not worked so well of late as complacency is hard to overcome. Coach “Tuca” Ferretti needs to light a fire under his veterans and he could do that by giving young guns like Leo Fernández more playing time. It doesn’t help that star goalie Nahuel Guzmán has missed two games with Covid-19 and there’s no guarantee he’ll return for Friday’s game at Mazatlán FC.
7. Pumas (+1)
10 points, 2-4-0, 8 GF, 5 GA
UNAM is the only undefeated team remaining in Liga MX but they have been far from convincing. One positive: coach Andrés Lillini is getting decent performances from three academy players who have debuted during the Guardianes 2020. If he can find a playmaker in midfield to feed Juan Dinenno and Carlos González, the Pumas will be in the playoffs.
8. Chivas (–1)
7 points, 2-1-3, 4 GF, 5 GA
This team just can’t get out of its own way. Early on, the virus wreaked havoc on the roster with seven players missing games. Then on Friday, Alexis Vega and Uriel Antuna decided to celebrate the latter’s birthday with images of their carousing finding their way on to social media. The pair was suspended and slapped with hefty fines. No doubt their teammates are miffed at their lack of commitment. Worse, their absence was apparent on the field as the Chivas failed to score in a dreadful 1-0 loss at Toluca. If new coach Víctor Manuel Vucetich can’t get the attention of his players after this latest incident, it will be a long season in Guadalajara.