América has ridden a 7-game win streak to the top of the Liga MX table. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
High-flying Aguilas continue to rule the Apertura 2022 roost
Pachuca midfielder Erick Sánchez (right) is again making life miserable for Liga MX attackers that dare enter his half of the pitch. Sánchez and his linemate Luis Chávez helped the Tuzos dispatch Santos Laguna with ease on Saturday. (Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images)
There’s barely time to digest what happened on Matchday 12 before Matchday 13 arrives as Liga MX has inserted another Midweek Matchday (the third of the Apertura 2022) into the calendar right here.
A quick glance at the weekend just past allows for these observations: With seven wins on the trot, América is the class of Liga MX; Pachuca has rediscovered the form that saw the Tuzos finish top of the table last season; two-time defending champs Atlas is beat up and exhausted; the Chivas are legitimate contenders; Cruz Azul is a disaster (and not because there’s a plot to make Jaime Ordiales look bad).
As the league starts to head for the home stretch, it would appear to be a six-team race for the Top 4 seeds (and the first-round playoff bye that goes with it. And the battle for the final wildcard spots will be a free-for-all.
All that being said, here is a hurried Playing for 90 Power Rankings. But don’t bother memorizing them because Matchday 13 kicks off on Tuesday. Take note that there are three ties – at No. 8, No. 10 and No. 15.
Aguilas flying high, Tuzos burrow into contention
The figures in parentheses represent that club’s record (W-D-L) followed by goals scored and goals allowed.
1. América (8-1-3, 26-11)
“Los Azulcremas” are a smooth-running machine right now and they’ll be trying to match the franchise record win streak of eight straight against Atlético de San Luis on Tuesday.
2. Pachuca (7-3-2, 17-9)
The Tuzos’s Dynamic Duo of Erick Sánchez and Luis Chávez has energized the club. Now if only Víctor Guzmán can rediscover his form.
3. Monterrey (7-4-2, 23-11)
The Rayados will regret the inability to scratch out a goal against visiting Mazatlán FC, especially since they alone among the top five in these Power Rankings have already played 13 games.
4. Santos Laguna (7-1-4, 24-14)
The Guerreros were picked apart by Pachuca on Saturday but they have two winnable games (vs. Necaxa and at Querétaro) in the next six days to recover their mojo. They’ll need it, because Sept. 14 will find them facing América at Estadio Azteca.
5. Tigres (6-3-3, 13-9)
Miguel Herrera is on a very hot seat right now. Even though Tigres are in the thick of the race for a top seed, their offense is floundering. “Piojo” is hoping “Diente” López and Florian Thauvin get fit after extended injury absences, and soon.
6. Toluca (6-4-3, 19-16)
The Diablos definitely have a better grasp of Ignacio Ambriz’s complex tactics, but they lack the skills to execute them. Hesitation is apparent in their passing and movement, too.
7. Guadalajara (3-7-2, 13-8)
The Chivas boast the stingiest defense in Liga MX (8 goals allowed) but 13 goals in 12 games is not going to produce too many victories.
Pretenders or contenders? Liga MX playoffs still in reach
8. Necaxa (5-2-5, 14-17)
8. Puebla (2-9-1, 18-16)
The Rayos are 2 points up on the Camoteros in the Liga MX table, but Puebla plays the better game. Still, Necaxa stole away from Estadio Cuauhtémoc with a draw three weeks ago and “La Franja” is on a 10-game winless streak so I flipped a coin … and it rolled under the sofa.
10. Atlético de San Luis (3-6-4, 11-14)
10. Tijuana (4-3-6, 13-19)
These two clubs played to a scoreless draw in San Luis Potosí on Thursday so since they refused to separate themselves on the field I wasn’t going to do it either.
12. FC Juárez (2-7-3, 12-12)
The Bravos are much improved over last season after ownership funded a rebuild this summer. They showed grit in fighting back from a 2-0 deficit against Cruz Azul, and did so despite playing with only 10 men for 86 minutes!
13. León (3-3-6, 17-24)
The potential turnaround I mentioned in the previous rankings did not transpire as the Esmeraldas stepped on a rake in the first half against Necaxa on Friday. Two late goals that made the final score respectable won’t fool me this time.
Not also-rans yet, but almost
14. Mazatlán FC (2-6-4, 13-16)
The Cañoneros play just well enough to not lose … most of the time. But all too often, goalie Nicolás Vikonis is called upon to save the day. He usually comes through, but you can’t win with a team that’s too comfortable turning and warning their goalie to duck.
15. Atlas (2-4-7, 14-21)
15. Cruz Azul (3-3-6, 16-28)
What are these two proud clubs doing down here? Well, Liga MX holders Atlas is worn out after a full year of nothing but success (the perils of a thin bench) while Cruz Azul is crumbling under management that has gone from bad to worse. Cementeros supporters are among the most aggrieved of Liga MX fans.
17. UNAM (1-7-4, 12-21)
After epitomizing the term overachievers last season, the Pumas have done a complete about face. Now if you look in the dictionary for the word “underachievers” you’ll find a team photo of the Pumas.
18. Querétaro (1-5-7, 12-21)
The Gallos Blancos are being taken apart brick-by-brick (ownership is under a league mandate to sell the club before the end of the year), even as coach Mauro Gerk has his men putting in an honest effort each game.
