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Liga MX: Tuzos top Power Rankings, Rayos soar to No. 8

By Thomas Buckley

Necaxa stunned the Tigres on Matchday 16 by shutting out the highest-scoring offense in Liga MX. The 2-0 bolstered the Rayos' playoff chances.(Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
Necaxa stunned the Tigres on Matchday 16 by shutting out the highest-scoring offense in Liga MX. The 2-0 bolstered the Rayos' playoff chances.(Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images) /
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Liga MX Power Rankings M16
Liga MX leaders Pachuca kept third-place Puebla at arm’s length, holding off the Camoteros despite playing the final 40 minutes with 10 men. (Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images) /

A late-season Midweek Matchday did little to clear up the Liga MX playoff picture as several upsets muddied the picture and still only one team has been eliminated from the race with two games remaining.

Mazatlán FC (17th place) is still mathematically alive and plays last-place FC Juárez tonight, so the Cañoneros could conceivably stay in the hunt into the final weekend.

At the top of the Liga MX table, Pachuca and the Tigres have clinched first-round playoff byes while Puebla has secured at least a wild card berth. That leaves 13 teams chasing the remaining nine postseason invitation, meaning every game this weekend has playoff implications.

With Matchday 16 set to kick off tonight, there’s no time to waste. Let’s get right to the Playing for 90 Power Rankings. As always, the figure in parentheses after each club’s name indicates that team’s movement compared to the previous rankings.

Top of the Liga MX class

1. Pachuca (+1)

The Tuzos regained the No. 1 spot thanks to an efficient 1-0 win over Puebla. Guillermo Almada’s men could tie the all-time Liga MX record for points in a 17-game season by winning out (vs. Monterrey; at UNAM).

2. Tigres (–1)

The Tigres appear to have been caught looking ahead to this weekend’s big clash with red-hot América, stumbling against lowly Necaxa. Miguel Herrera’s club was blanked for the first time since Matchday 2 (by Puebla) back on Jan. 15.

3. Puebla (—)

The Camoteros failed to score for the first time all season (they had been the only Liga MX team to have scored in every game). “La Franja” has an easy finish (vs Necaxa, at Mazatlán FC) so they should be able to hold onto a Top 4 spot.

4. América (—)

The Aguilas won their fifth straight by cruising past an imploding León side (three ejections) and have now won five consecutive matches. They’ll put their streak on the line against the No. 2 Tigres and Liga MX fans will get to see how real their revival is.

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