Streaking Cruz Azul tops Liga MX Power Rankings

Matchday 13</a> saw overachieving Puebla gather up 3 more points while Guadalajara settled for its seventh draw, giving rise to a new nickname for the beloved club – the UnderaChivas.</p> <p>A few steps behind the clubs clustered in the chasing pack you’ll find the Tigres and the Pumas, both falling well short of preseason expectations.</p> <p>The only major development was the re-emergence of León as a serious contender, flashing some of the form that led the Esmeraldas to their eighth Liga MX title last season. <em>“La Fiera”</em> – the biggest mover in this week’s list – rose from seventh in last week’s rankings to the No. 4 spot. That’s a new high for Ignacio Ambriz and las <em>“Panzas Verdes.”</em></p> <p>So without further ado …</p> <h2>Liga MX Power Rankings after Matchday 13</h2> <p><strong>1. Cruz Azul</strong></p> <p>The Cementeros set a new club record with an 11th consecutive win, getting<a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AxdgUfiSy8%22> a last-minute goal from “Cabecita” Rodríguez</a> to nab a 1-0 victory over a plucky FC Juárez club.</p> <p><strong>2. América</strong></p> <p>The Aguilas toughed out a 2-1 win over Necaxa but the road gets considerably tougher. Up next, a visit to <em>“El Volcán”</em> to face a proud Tigres team with their backs to the walls. Then comes the showdown we’re all waiting for – Cruz Azul and América – with the top playoff seed on the line.</p> <p><strong>3. Monterrey</strong></p> <p>The talented Rayados continue to be profligate in attack, a deficiency that coach Javier Aguirre will want resolved before the <em>Liguilla</em>.</p> <div class="recent-posts "> <h4>More from <b>Liga MX</b></h4> <ul> <li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/13/leon-juarez-playoffs/"> Leon edges scrappy FC Juarez to secure spot in playoffs </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/liga-mx-leon-puebla-finales/"> León chasing play-in spot; Puebla aims for higher seeding </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/tigres-goalie-america/"> Carlos Rodríguez emerges with clean sheet vs league leaders </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/10/liga-mx-tigres-america-2/"> América at Tigres: Liga MX royalty square off in season finale </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/09/chino-vs-guadalajara/"> ‘Chino’ Huerta eager to show Chivas what might have been </a> </li></ul> </div> <p><strong>4. León</strong></p> <p>The defending champs appear to be getting their offensive machine revved up and skipper Luis Montes is pulling the strings with flair.</p> <p><strong>5. Santos</strong></p> <p>The Guerreros managed a draw on the road against the Chivas days after losing midfield dynamo Fernando Gorriarán to a season-ending injury. Mad genius Guillermo Almada is forced back to the drawing board; his young minions (especially Santi Muñoz) must come of age, and quickly.</p> <p><strong>6. Toluca</strong></p> <p>The Diablos are winless in their last four, but they played well in the 2-1 loss at León. Coach Hernán Cristante must get his team back in the win column and he’ll want to start Sunday against Monterrey. A huge game at “<em>La Bombonera</em>.”</p> <p><strong>7. Atlas</strong></p> <p>The Zorros host holders León knowing that they can’t afford to lose points in their race to avoid last place in the “Relegation Standings,” which comes with a 120 million-peso booby prize.</p> <p><strong>8. Puebla</strong></p> <p>The Camoteros have the second-lowest payroll in Liga MX yet coach Nicolás Larcamón has <em>“La Franja”</em> contending for a Top 4 finish. The 36-year-old is a clear favorite to claim Liga MX Coach of the Year honors.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nos. 9-18 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_486482" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-486482" src=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1310830487-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX Power Rankings 13" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">André-Pierre Gignac and the Tigres can’t figure out what has gone wrong this season. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>Even Liga MX also-rans have playoff hopes</h3> <p><strong>9. Tijuana</strong></p> <p>The Xolos barked themselves out too early, starting the Guardianes 2021 3-3-0 but going 1-1-5 since. Coach Pablo Guede could be job-hunting come May.</p> <p><strong>10. Pachuca</strong></p> <p>The Tuzos coughed up 2 points against the Pumas Sunday, conceding two goals after the 90-minute mark and settling for a draw, ending a three-game win streak.</p> <p><strong>11. Tigres</strong></p> <p>The aging northerners escaped Estadio Corregidora with a win thanks to a late, late goal by defender Diego Reyes. But barely defeating Querétaro, a team with roughly one-third the payroll of the Tigres, is more of a headache than a relief for coach “Tuca” Ferretti.</p> <p><strong>12. UNAM</strong></p> <p>Last season’s losing Liga MX finalist has lost six times through 13 games (the Pumas lost only once last season) and is one of only two Liga MX teams yet to hit double figures in goals scored.</p> <p><strong>13. Mazatlán FC</strong></p> <p>Tomás Boy has his guys playing a physical, feisty style, but the results are not coming. Still, the Purple Gang has a shot at a wildcard spot.</p> <p><strong>14. Atlético de San Luis</strong></p> <p>The Tuneros are a hard-luck bunch. They just can’t catch a break. As a result they are in danger of being stuck with a 120 million-peso penalty for finishing last in the “Relegation Standings.”</p> <p><strong>15. Guadalajara</strong></p> <p>It must be maddening to be a Chivas fan. There seems to be a disconnect between what coach Víctor Manuel Vucetich tells his players in the locker room and what takes place on the pitch.</p> <p><strong>16. Necaxa</strong></p> <p>Rayos fans are hopeful that new coach Guillermo Vázquez will get his wish for a summertime influx of talent.</p> <p><strong>17. Querétaro</strong></p> <p>The Gallos Blancos could make the playoffs despite boasting the lowest payroll in Liga MX. A road game at León this weekend is their first stumbling block, however.</p> <p><strong>18. FC Juárez</strong></p> <p>The Bravos are ineffective on offense and light on defense. Other than that …</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Top Matchday 14 contests </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_486483" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-486483" src=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1190763306-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX Power Rankings 13" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">América and the Tigres renew one of the great rivalries of the past decade this coming weekend. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h3>Tigres, Atlas, Toluca put playoff aspirations on line</h3> <p>There are three matches involving top 10 teams this weekend and in each case the home team is the underdog.</p> <p>The most attractive game will take place Saturday night in Monterrey where 10th-place <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://www.clubamerica.com.mx/comunicados/15-datos-america-vs-tigres/">Tigres host second-place América</a>. This clash became a Classic last decade as the two clubs claimed 8 Liga MX titles between them, meeting twice in the Finals.</p> <p>The Aguilas have already clinched a playoff spot while the Tigres have floundered since their triumphant return from the FIFA Club World Cup as silver medalists. Coach “Tuca” Ferretti has stubbornly stuck with the veteran core that delivered five titles in seven Finals appearances since 2011.</p> <p>The frustration in the locker room is palpable as several players resent the lack of playing time. Defender Francisco Meza is among them. He is out of contract in December and says he has no intention of re-upping (Tigres would be wise to sell him this summer). Playmaker Leo Fernández is also frustrated over lack of playing time and wants out.</p> <p>If “Tuca” can’t turn things around in the remaining games, his offer of a contract extension could be rescinded. Expect this to be a tense and physical match.</p> <p><strong>León at Atlas</strong></p> <p>The champs have rediscovered their form and have been re-installed as a title favorite. The Esmeraldas were 2-1-6 after a March 6 loss to América after which skipper Luis Montes took the bull by the horns, guiding <em>“La Fiera”</em> to a 3-1-0 record since.</p> <p>Coach Ignacio Ambriz’s team is the favorite heading into Estadio Jalisco despite being lower in the standings (León is 8th, Atlas in 5th), but they’ll face a resurgent Atlas team that has gone 6-3-1 since losing their first three games. The Zorros need this to be a low-scoring game to maintain their momentum.</p> <p><strong>Monterrey at Toluca</strong></p> <p>Seventh-place Toluca hosts the third-place Rayados in a must-win game for the Diablos. Toluca was in third place after a March 2 victory over the Tigres, but has not won since. A late push could earn <em>“Los Choriceros”</em> a Top 4 seed but a fade-out could see them forced to go on the road in the wildcard round.</p> <p>Monterrey is woefully inefficient on offense, but scraping out wins due to a massive advantage in talent (the Rayados boast the highest payroll in Liga MX). Coach Javier Aguirre knows his guys must smooth out their issues if they hope to have a deep playoff run.</p> <p>Expect Toluca to attack from the outset, pressing forward for the entire 90 minutes.</p> <p><strong>Two others to watch</strong></p> <p>League-leading Cruz Azul hosts a desperate Chivas team that is in serious danger of missing the playoffs. The Cementeros aim to equal the all-time Liga MX record for consecutive wins (12) set by León only two years ago and remain in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed. Guadalajara must win or face another embarrassing pratfall, one that could cause ownership to blow up the entire team (front office included).</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Liga MX By the Numbers" data-url="https://playingfor90.com/2021/01/08/clausura-2021-new-liga-mx-season-numbers/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/04/10/streaking-cruz-azul-tops-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2021/01/08/clausura-2021-new-liga-mx-season-numbers/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Liga MX By the Numbers </a> </div> </div> <p>At the lower end of the table, last place FC Juárez hosts Atlético de San Luis in a “Financial Penalty Face-Off.” Both clubs have mathematical possibilities of reducing their fines for finishing at the bottom of the “Relegation Standings,” but that requires winning out, an unlikely scenario for either team since both are amidst 6-game winless streaks. A draw would be useless, so expect plenty of effort (but not results).</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">