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Last season’s Liga MX finalists in dire straits

By Thomas Buckley

Just a little over two months ago, León and the Pumas faced off for the Guardianes 2020 title. (Photo by Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images)
Just a little over two months ago, León and the Pumas faced off for the Guardianes 2020 title. (Photo by Leopoldo Smith/Getty Images) /
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Liga MX Matchday 6/7
Mauro Manotas of Tijuana celebrates after scoring the Xolos’ opener against defending champs León on Friday night. Tijuana won 2-0. (Photo by Francisco Vega/Getty Images) /

Two Liga MX clubs have yet to register an “L”

Tijuana is aiming for a massive turnaround after its embarrassing 4-3-10 record last season. So far, things are going quite well.

Six weeks into the new season, Pablo Guede seems to have saved his job as his Xolos are 3-3-0 (12 points). Tijuana has wins over first-place Toluca and their most-recent “W” was a 2-0 victory over holders León, ending the champs’ 18-game unbeaten streak at home.

The other unbeaten squad is Santos – also 3-3-0 – and the Guerreros handed Monterrey its first setback of the season on Sunday night. The game-winner by defender Matheus Doria in minute 59 is the only goal Javier Aguirre’s team has allowed all season.

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Coach Guillermo Almada is getting fine contributions from academy players, most notably 18-year-old Santi Muñoz who has attracted interest from Newcastle. Also making a difference are left back Ronald Prieto and midfielder Omar Campos.

The Rayados round out the Top 5 with 10 points and a game in hand, still struggling to rediscover their form after the club was sidelined for two weeks due to a massive coronavirus outbreak last month. Monterrey was a perfect 3-0-0 when the infection occurred.

Liga MX Notes

Chivas striker J.J. Macías has scored in four straight games, finding the net in each of the games he has played since missing the club’s first two after testing positive for Covid-19. J.J.’s late equalizer against Necaxa made up for the own-goal he had scored earlier, a mishit that had given the Rayos a 2-1 lead in minute 53.

Pachuca is the lone winless Liga MX squad after losing to lowly Atlas. The 1-0 victory – the first of the season for Atlas – lifts the Zorros above the Tuzos who tumble into last place. Pachuca coach Paulo Pezzolano is on the hot seat as his Tuzos look in complete disarray. For its part, Atlas still remains in last place in the “relegation standings,” a position that results in a 120 million-peso fine.

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