León firmly atop Liga MX Rankings, Cementeros slide
Tigres ride 4-game streak into No. 2 spot, displacing Cruz Azul
León stretched its lead atop the Liga MX table to 4 points while also confirming its claim to being the best team in Mexico. At the same time, the Tigres finally appear to be playing up to their reputation as perennial title contender and that is reflected in the latest Playing for 90 Power Rankings.
There was very little movement in the top half of our rankings this week, the most notable prompted by the terrible performance turned in by Cruz Azul, a 2-0 loser at Toluca.
Bigger shifts are evident in the lower rungs where Tijuana steadied itself after a Covid scare (the Xolos still have a game in hand – vs Santos) and Toluca benefited from its stunning upset of the Cementeros.
Necaxa rose from the cellar with a 1-0 win at Atlas to give new coach José Guadalupe Cruz his first win and the Zorros paid the price for the home loss with a 3-spot tumble. Mazatlán FC continues to underachieve and they slid 2 spots just as they begin looking for a new coach.
The Liga MX takes next weekend off as a FIFA date will turn our attention to El Tri which is un Europe for a two-game exhibition schedule.
Without further ado, here is the Week 13 Power Rankings. The symbol in parentheses after the team name indicates the club’s movement in relation to last week’s rankings.
1. León (—)
The Esmeraldas boast the stingiest defense in Liga MX. Despite a fluid possession offense, León has yet to untracked. If they do, watch out!
2. Tigres (+2)
The Tigres were at No. 8 in the Week 10 Rankings but have risen steadily since notoriously conservative coach “Tuca” Ferretti decided to trust his young playmakers Leo Fernández and Nicolás “Diente” López.
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3. America (—)
More than any other team, the Aguilas desperately need the FIFA break to get healthy. Their back line is a hospital ward and goalie Guillermo Ochoa could be out another month (although fill-in Oscar Jiménez has been a very adequate replacement).
4. Cruz Azul (–2)
The Cementeros just aren’t as explosive as they were during the aborted Clausura 2020 and they don’t look to be on the same page on offense. One wonders if goalie “Chuy” Corona’s gaffe will prompt coach Robert Siboldi to consider one of his young keepers.
5. UNAM (—)
The Pumas fought valiantly to earn a draw against América despite playing without three starters (defender Sebastián Freire and forward Carlos González tested positive for Covid-19 while goalie Alfredo Talavera is in Europe with El Tri).
6. Monterrey (—)
The Rayados are still not playing up to their potential but improvement is noticeable and their talent alone can influence games when tactics are wanting.
7. Pachuca (—)
The Tuzos settled for a draw at lowly FC Juárez but their solid, if unspectacular play, keeps them firmly in the Top 10.
8. Santos (+1)
Guillermo Almada finally seems to have settled on a line-up that can give him what he wants and the Guerreros could be a dangerous team down the stretch.
9. Guadalajara (–1)
The Chivas were blanked for the seventh time this season. That’s shocking considering the talent they’ve assembled! And if not for goalie Raúl Gudiño, “El Rebaño Sagrado” might have lost at Tijuana on Sunday.
10. Tijuana (+4)
The Xolos went 17 days between games due to a Covid-19 break-out, but have picked up 4 points in two games since returning to action. They’ll make up their game against Santos on Oct. 11.