Anderson Santamaría (left) and Hugo Nervo (right) anchored a stingy Atlas defense that will be relied upon to carry the load in the Liga MX playoffs. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images)
The Apertura 2021 provided a rousing finish with two teams (UNAM, Atlético de San Luis) squeaking into the Liga MX playoffs on the final day of the season.
Despite the dramatic conclusion to Matchday 17, the majority of the games this season lacked thrills (1-0 was the most frequent score-line and there were 20 scoreless draws), so fans will expect some compensation in the playoffs.
We could also talk about the plethora of officiating errors but we’ll skip the rest of the small talk and get right to the list.
Remember, the figure in parentheses after each club reflects the team’s movement compared to the previous rankings.
Liga MX Power Rankings
1. América (—)
For the Aguilas, the FIFA break comes at a perfect time. Santiago Solari has been under some pressure as “Los AzulCremas” hit the skids after clinching the No. 1 Liga MX playoff seed in mid-October only to lose the Concacaf Champions League Final then finish the season on a two-game winless streak. That’s no big deal for most teams, but Aguilas Nation demands perfection. The title favorites can now rest, get healthy (and hope none of its players get hurt on international duty) and wait to see who they play in the quarterfinals.
2. Tigres (—)
The Tigres took all season to adapt to new coach Miguel Herrera, but still readily fall back on “Tuca-ball” (after all, they won five Liga MX titles playing that conservative, ball-control style). With its strike force getting healthy (André-Pierre Gignac had a brace in the penultimate game vs Chivas, while Liga MX co-scoring champ Nico López hit for a double in the finale), this team looks set to make a deep run in the Liguilla. Another Tigres-América final, perhaps?
3. Atlas (—)
The Zorros snagged the No. 2 seed but recent losses to Mazatlán FC and last-place Tijuana suggest this team isn’t quite ready for Prime Time. Diego Cocca will rely on his sturdy, stingy back line in the playoffs, but Julio Furch and Julián Quiñones could use some help up front. Will Jairo Torres or Christopher Trejo step up?
4. León (+1)
The Esmeraldas played shut-down defense down the stretch (six clean sheets in their last seven games), but their offense sputtered. Víctor Dávila’s hat trick in the finale against Necaxa offers some hope (but must be taken with a grain of salt since the Rayos do not boast a top-line defense). The lengthy absence of captain Luis Montes is a primary reason for the offensive woes, but the reappearance of Fernando Navarro provided some spark. If “El Chapo” is available by the time the quarterfinals roll around, watch out for “La Fiera!”
the previous rankings.</a></p>
<h2>Liga MX Power Rankings</h2>
<p><strong>1. América (—)</strong></p>
<p>For the Aguilas, the FIFA break comes at a perfect time. Santiago Solari has been under some pressure as <em>“Los AzulCremas”</em> hit the skids after clinching the No. 1 Liga MX playoff seed in mid-October only to lose the Concacaf Champions League Final then finish the season on a two-game winless streak. That’s no big deal for most teams, but Aguilas Nation demands perfection. The title favorites can now rest, get healthy (and hope none of its players get hurt on international duty) and wait to see who they play in the quarterfinals.</p>
<p><strong>2. Tigres (—)</strong></p>
<p>The Tigres took all season to adapt to new coach Miguel Herrera, but still readily fall back on “Tuca-ball” (after all, they won five Liga MX titles playing that conservative, ball-control style). With its strike force getting healthy (André-Pierre Gignac had a brace in the penultimate game vs Chivas, while Liga MX co-scoring champ Nico López hit for a double in the finale), this team looks set to make a deep run in the Liguilla. Another Tigres-América final, perhaps?</p>
<p><strong>3. Atlas (—)</strong></p>
<p>The Zorros snagged the No. 2 seed but recent losses to Mazatlán FC and last-place Tijuana suggest this team isn’t quite ready for Prime Time. Diego Cocca will rely on his sturdy, stingy back line in the playoffs, but Julio Furch and Julián Quiñones could use some help up front. Will Jairo Torres or Christopher Trejo step up?</p>
<p><strong>4. León (+1)</strong></p>
<p>The Esmeraldas played shut-down defense down the stretch (six clean sheets in their last seven games), but their offense sputtered. Víctor Dávila’s hat trick in the finale against Necaxa offers some hope (but must be taken with a grain of salt since the Rayos do not boast a top-line defense). The lengthy absence of captain Luis Montes is a primary reason for the offensive woes, but the reappearance of Fernando Navarro provided some spark. If “El Chapo” is available by the time the quarterfinals roll around, watch out for <em>“La Fiera!”</em></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/2021/11/09/final-liga-mx-power-rankings/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nos. 5-9 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">With Carlos Acevedo back between the pipes, Santos Laguna looks to get back to the Liga MX Final this season. (Photo by Manuel Guadarrama/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>These wildcard teams are genuine contenders</h3>
<p><strong>5. Santos (+5)</strong></p>
<p>After a lackluster Matchday 13 loss at América, the Guerreros appeared to be in trouble. You could see the steam coming out of the ears of ever-demanding coach Guillermo Almada. But then something clicked and <em>“Los Laguneros”</em> exploded, scoring 8 goals in their next three games to clinch a playoff spot. With acrobatic goalie Carlos Acevedo back between the pipes (he returned on Matchday 16 after missing eight games with a shoulder injury), Santos is a threat to return to the Liga MX Finals.</p>
<p><strong>6. Toluca (–2)</strong></p>
<p>The Diablos Rojos collapsed down the stretch, finishing the season with an 0-4-4 fade. Top striker Alexis Canelo was a shadow of the player that led Liga MX in scoring last season; his production dipped from 11 goals to 4. The loss of defender Miguel Barbieri to season-ending knee surgery in early September left a hole that was never adequately filled and then goalie Luis García went down with an unspecified leg injury on Oct. 17. This team is ripe for an upset when No. 11 UNAM comes to <em>“La Bombonera”</em> on Nov. 21.</p>
<p><strong>7. Puebla (+2)</strong></p>
<p>The Camoteros were winless after six games, but lost only twice since, posting an impressive 6-3-2 record. Coach Nicolás Larcamón took some time to figure out his roster after the front office sold three key players (Santi Ormeño, Omar Fernández and Salvador Reyes) from the team he guided to the semifinals last season. Shortly after youngster Guillermo Martínez won the spot as Christián Tabó’s strike partner, <em>“La Franja”</em> took off.</p>
<p><strong>8. Cruz Azul (–3)</strong></p>
<p>The reigning Liga MX champs rather sleepwalked through the Apertura 2021, occasionally flashing the dynamic style that helped them claim the franchise’s ninth league title. <em>“La Máquina”</em> just seemed to lack the hunger and determination that carried them to the top, and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/11/09/final-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/universal-deportes/futbol/tras-la-nueva-cruzazuleada-juan-reynoso-amenaza-sus-jugadores">coach Juan Reynoso was furious</a> with some lackadaisical effort in Sunday’s stunning loss to the Pumas that left them with a No. 8 seed.</p>
<p><strong>9. Monterrey (–2)</strong></p>
<p>The Rayados were the biggest underachievers of the season. Despite boasting the biggest payroll in Liga MX, Monterrey languished in the middle of the table most of the season. The front office was typing up a pink slip for coach Javier Aguirre until the club defeated América to win the Concacaf Champions League on Oct. 28. That piece of hardware does not erase the fact that this collection of millionaires has not won a Liga MX match since Sept. 26, going 0-2-4. And three of those four losses were to FC Juárez, Querétaro and Necaxa. A quick exit in the playoffs and “El Vasco” could be looking for a new job.</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/2021/11/09/final-liga-mx-power-rankings/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nos. 10-14 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">The Pumas pulled off a miracle finish to claim a wildcard spot, overcoming a 3-1 halftime deficit to defeat holders Cruz Azul in their season finale. (Photo by Mauricio Salas/Jam Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Big 4 members Chivas, Pumas can finally exhale</h3>
<p><strong>10. Guadalajara (+3)</strong></p>
<p>The Chivas were a godawful mess for long stretches of the Apertura 2021, frequently dealing with disciplinary issues, and the injuries/absences didn’t help. In the first seven games after firing coach Víctor Manuel Vucetich, <em>“El Rebaño Sagrado”</em> went 1-3-3 and there was genuine concern that the “Most Popular Club in Mexico” would miss out on the playoffs. Fortunately, there was considerable mediocre play by Guadalajara’s rivals for wildcard spots. A road win at Mazatlán FC in the season finale was enough to claim the No. 10 seed and a date against Puebla.</p>
<p><strong>11. UNAM (—)</strong></p>
<p>In crisis mode by mid-September, the club sacked the president and general manager, giving new vice president of football operations Miguel Mejía Baron just enough time to sign Brazilian Diogo to boost the listless offense. After losing at América on Oct. 3, the Pumas were in 17th place with a 1-5-4 record. Then it happened. A three-game win streak gave the team life until a 3-0 home loss in their penultimate match had the Pumas on life support. Down 3-1 at the half in the finale against Cruz Azul, it was all over, right? Nope. Diogo stepped forward with an assist and two goals and <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2021/11/09/final-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OHBo-WClUE%22>UNAM miraculously stole into a wildcard spot</a>.</p>
<p><strong>12. Atlético de San Luis (+3)</strong></p>
<p>The Tuneros took advantage of the early season mayhem at other clubs (34 international players on duty at either the Gold Cup or the Olympics) to pile up some points before finally leveling off in mid-season. Three consecutive draws down the stretch proved to be just enough to pip Mazatlán FC at the finish line, swiping the final wildcard berth from the Cañoneros by virtue of a better negative goal differential (–4 compared to Mazatlán’s –6). Though clearly the weakest team in the Liga MX playoffs, the Tuneros have climbed up out of the “relegation zone” and that should be considered a victory for the front office.</p>
<p><strong>13. Mazatlán FC (–5)</strong></p>
<p>The Cañoneros were deprived of their first-ever playoff appearance on goal differential. Rookie coach Beñat San José need look no further than the team’s 2-2 draw against visiting Atlético de San Luis back on Aug. 27. The Tuneros scored the equalizer in minute 90+6 when the Mazatlán defense fell asleep on a corner kick. Those 2 lost points were the difference. Then again, you could also point to the 1-0 home loss to the Chivas in the season finale in which “The Purple Gang” conceded the winner in minute 87.</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/2021/11/09/final-liga-mx-power-rankings/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nos. 14-18 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">The Rayos of Necaxa were in 10th place heading into the final weekend, but a 3-0 loss at León sealed their fate. (Photo by Cesar Gomez/Jam Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Rayos top the ‘wait-till-next-year’ crowd</h3>
<p><strong>14. Necaxa (–2)</strong></p>
<p>The Rayos had a three-game losing streak as well as a four-game losing streak after 10 games yet still were somehow in the playoff hunt until the final day. A Liga MX-high nine losses did them in. Coach Pablo Guede took over on Matchday 12 and went 2-2-2 to finish out the Apertura 2021. The former Morelia and Tijuana manager knows by now that his defense is atrocious and his front line is comprised of selfish, 1-on-1 players who look for their shot first, second and third, rarely looking to pass to a teammate inside the final third. There is talent in midfield, but unfortunately a 0-10-0 formation would not be successful.</p>
<p><strong>15. Pachuca (–1)</strong></p>
<p>The Tuzos beat León 4-0 in their season-opener and … well, that was the highlight of the season. The 3-6-7 record that came after – a 15th place finish after reaching the semifinals last season – cost Paulo Pezzolano his job. The Uruguayan leaves having helped develop a core of young players – Erick Sánchez, Kevin Álvarez, Bryan González and Roberto de la Rosa – but the front office must know that it badly misspent money over the summer and the resulting upheaval in the locker room proved to be Pachuca’s undoing.</p>
<p><strong>16. FC Juárez (—)</strong></p>
<p>The Bravos are a low-wage club that tried to learn a new tactical scheme under legendary coach “Tuca” Ferretti. The complex strategy requires smart play, patience, and mental and physical discipline. There were times – though few and far between – where it seemed as if the Bravos had grasped the fundamentals, but the talent is simply lacking.</p>
<p><strong>17. Querétaro (—)</strong></p>
<p>The Gallos Blancos have the smallest payroll in Liga MX and it showed, especially on offense as the team registered a measly 11 goals in 17 games. Leonardo Ramos took the reins ahead of Matchday 7 after the Gallos started 0-3-3 with just 1 goal scored. Will the front office invest in new players during the winter break to avoid “relegation” issues?</p>
<p><strong>18. Tijuana (—)</strong></p>
<p>The Xolos are a perfect example of a team that is less than the sum of its parts … a great deal less. There is talent on the roster, but on the pitch there was no doubt that this was the worst team in Liga MX. Sebastián Méndez was brought in to replace Robert Siboldi with only four games remaining, and the team won its last two games, but there is reason to believe the Argentine manager will not be around come January.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">