Playing for 90
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Tuzos, Tigres top season’s first Power Rankings

By Thomas Buckley

Víctor Guzmán (left), Avilés Hurtado (center) and Nicolás Ibáñez (right) have sparked a revival in Pachuca and the Tuzos sit atop the Liga MX table. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Víctor Guzmán (left), Avilés Hurtado (center) and Nicolás Ibáñez (right) have sparked a revival in Pachuca and the Tuzos sit atop the Liga MX table. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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Liga MX Rankings 10
There are no more unbeatens in Liga MX after Puebla went down to defeat at San Luis. The Camoteros still sit second in the Liga MX table. (Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

No more unbeatens in Liga MX

3. Puebla

(21 points, 6-3-1, 18 goals for, 9 goals allowed)

The Camoteros were the lone unbeaten Liga MX team until Sunday when Atlético de San Luis shocked “La Franja.” The upset loss was even more surprising considering how good Puebla looked the previous week at Estadio Azteca, manhandling Cruz Azul 3-1.

4. Atlas

(18 points, 5-3-2, 12 goals for, 7 goals allowed)

Are the defending Liga MX champs finally rediscovering their form? Julio Furch has regained fitness after a lengthy battle with Covid in January and his strike partner Julián Quiñones is as dangerous as ever. The lingering plantar fasciitis injury to right back Diego Barbosa is the only bad news coming out of the Zorros camp.

5. Cruz Azul

(17 points, 5-2-3, 17 goals for 13 goals allowed)

The Cementeros are still suffering through late-game jitters and until they learn how to put teams away early, coach Juan Reynoso will have to refill his blood pressure prescription. Then again, part of the late-game issues can be attributed to Reynoso’s lousy substitution patterns.

6. Monterrey

(12 points, 3-3-2, 10 goals for, 7 goals allowed)

Since the Rayados replaced Javier Aguirre with Víctor Manuel Vucetich, the team has responded with wins over América and Mazatlán FC. “King Midas” tweaked the line-up and the team with the biggest payroll in Liga MX has responded. A road win over the Tigres in Saturday’s “Clásico Regiomontano” would announce their return to the title chase.

7. León

(15 points, 4-3-3, 9 goals for, 10 goals allowed)

The Esmeraldas might have been revealed as a pretender after suffering their second straight 3-0 loss (the first in ConcaChampions in Seattle, the second at home against the Tigres on Saturday). “La Fiera” will try to save face in Thursday’s return match against the Sounders but season-long scoring issues are a huge concern for Ariel Holan.

8. Santos Laguna

(11 points, 3-2-5, 15 goals for, 17 goals allowed)

Coach Pedro Caixinha was sacked after the club’s 0-2-4 start to the Liga MX season and its quick elimination in ConcaChampions. The Guerreros immediately sprang to life under interim coach Eduardo Fentanes (3-0-1, with wins over Cruz Azul and Pumas) such that ownership removed the “interim” tag in front of Fentanes’ name.

9. Guadalajara

(12 points, 3-3-4, 15 goals for, 14 goals allowed)

The Chivas are doing just enough to lose and simply don’t have the talent to contend for their long-sought-after 13th Liga MX title. They did get good news Sunday – 22-year-old defender Luis Olivas did NOT suffer a season-ending knee injury as a result of a scary-looking collision in Saturday’s “Super Clásico.”

10. UNAM

(11 points, 3-2-4, 14 goals for, 10 goals allowed)

The Pumas are scoring at a better clip than last season, but their roster appears too thin for a deep playoff run. They’ll likely be able to focus solely on Liga MX obligations after Wednesday as the New England Revolution hold a 3-0 advantage in their ConcaChampions quarterfinal series with the return match set for the CU on Wednesday.

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