Tigres ace André-Pierre Gignac failed to score for a second straight game but he still leads Liga MX in scoring with 10 goals. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
Finally, all 18 Liga MX teams have played the same number of games, just in time for a hectic stretch run in which 14 teams are vying for the 10 remaining playoff spots. The final two make-up games were played in the past eight days and everybody has 13 games under their belts.
Pachuca and the Tigres have already clinched berths in the Liga MX postseason and seem poised to secure two of the four first-round byes. Matchday 16 – Pachuca hosts Monterrey and the Tigres host América – features two of the key battles remaining for the leaders.
As such, we can expect a battle royale for the other two Top 4 spots that appear up for grabs. Saturday’s Puebla at León contest is the first head-to-head clash among the five teams best positioned to claim the weekend passes alongside Pachuca and the Tigres.
The Matchday 13 results jumbled the Playing for 90 Liga MX Power Rankings considerably though there weren’t very many big movers – Monterrey climbing 3 spots; Cruz Azul and the Chivas tumbling 3 spots being the exception. Two clubs stayed put – Atlas as No. 5 and Querétaro at No. 16 – otherwise, it was just a bit of tinkering.
Power Rankings after Matchday 13
Let’s get right to it. As always, the figure in parentheses after each club’s name indicates the movement for that team as compared to the previous Liga MX Power Rankings.
1. Pachuca (+1)
The Tuzos defeated the Tigres in a make-up game to reclaim first place here as well as in the Liga MX standings but then flailed about against Tijuana on Monday. The scoreless draw against the Xolos was the first game this season in which Pachuca failed to score. Scoring should not be a problem this weekend when the Tuzos visit last place FC Juárez.
2. Tigres (–1)
The loss at Pachuca ended the Tigres’ nine-game unbeaten streak and then Miguel Herrera’s team struggled to put away lowly Querétaro this past weekend, probably not a surprise after the intensity of showdown against the Tuzos just three days earlier.
3. Puebla (+2)
The Camoteros are winless in their past four (0-2-2) but after the hot start they enjoyed they remain in the top three here and in the Liga MX table.
Tuzos defeated the Tigres</a> in a make-up game to reclaim first place here as well as in the Liga MX standings but then flailed about against Tijuana on Monday. The scoreless draw against the Xolos was the first game this season in which Pachuca failed to score. Scoring should not be a problem this weekend when the Tuzos visit last place FC Juárez.</p>
<p><strong>2. Tigres (–1)</strong></p>
<p>The loss at Pachuca ended the Tigres’ nine-game unbeaten streak and then Miguel Herrera’s team struggled to put away lowly Querétaro this past weekend, probably not a surprise after the intensity of showdown against the Tuzos just three days earlier.</p>
<p><strong>3. Puebla (+2)</strong></p>
<p>The Camoteros are winless in their past four (0-2-2) but after the hot start they enjoyed they remain in the top three here and in the Liga MX table.</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/2022/04/14/tuzos-top-liga-mx-power-rankings/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nos. 4-10 </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-492216" src=https://playingfor90.com/2022/04/14/tuzos-top-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%2F2017%2F07%2F1391328112-850x560.jpeg" alt="Liga MX Rankings 13" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Maxi Meza (left) and the Monterrey defense kept close tabs on Alexis Vega Wednesday night as the Rayados claimed a big 3-1 road win to move into fourth place in the Liga MX table. (Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Liga MX champ could yet come from this group</h3>
<p><strong>4. Monterrey (+3)</strong></p>
<p>The Rayados finally made up all their games after missing two matchdays while competing in the FIFA Club World Cup in February then seeing a game in Guadalajara postponed due to a Coldplay concert. If they play the rest of the season like they did in the second half against the Chivas on Wednesday, watch out! And former Guadalajara coach Víctor Manuel Vucetich might appreciate the irony that his team’s 3-1 win led to <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2022/04/14/tuzos-top-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://www.espn.com/soccer/guadalajara/story/4642182/chivas-fire-coach-marcelo-michel-leano-following-poor-start-to-liga-mx-clausura">the ouster of his successor there, Marcelo Michel Leaño</a>.</p>
<p><strong>5. Atlas (—)</strong></p>
<p>The defending champs have not impressed this season but they have given up the fewest goals in Liga MX (10) and only Pachuca and the Tigres have more victories.</p>
<p><strong>6. Cruz Azul (–3)</strong></p>
<p>The Cementeros are in a funk after getting knocked out of the Concacaf Champions League by the Pumas and their poor form was illustrated by a dismal display at Mazatlán FC last weekend. If Juan Reynoso can’t get <em>“La Máquina”</em> pointed in the right direction, it will be a brief postseason.</p>
<p><strong>7. América (+2)</strong></p>
<p>The Aguilas have won three straight and have climbed into 11th place with an arrow. Interim coach Fernando Ortiz has turned <em>“Los AzulCremas”</em> from Liga MX laughing stock to a team no-one will want to face early in the playoffs.</p>
<p><strong>8. Santos Laguna (–2)</strong></p>
<p>The Guerreros are the lone team in these rankings whose position is considerably higher than in the Liga MX standings. That’s because of a terrible start to the Clausura 2022 which their improving form has not quite overcome yet. Interim coach Eduardo Fentanes should guide this team into the playoffs, perhaps earning a shot at the permanent job.</p>
<p><strong>9. León (–1)</strong></p>
<p>The Esmeraldas have struggled all season to find an offensive rhythm; it’s hard to believe that this once fine-tuned machine has scored just 12 goals. If coach Ariel Holan does not come up with a solution soon (Puebla, América and Santos Laguna are next on the schedule), <em>“La Fiera”</em> might find even a wildcard berth slip out of their grasp.</p>
<p><strong>10. UNAM (+1)</strong></p>
<p>The Pumas are going to have a tough run down the stretch with the two-legged <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2022/04/14/tuzos-top-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2022/04/13/pumas-blank-cruz-azul-reach-ccl-final/">Concacaf Champions League Final</a> coming before and after Matchday 17. Still, there’s no doubt that this scrappy bunch will not back down from either challenge.</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/2022/04/14/tuzos-top-liga-mx-power-rankings/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Nos. 11-18 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">If the Liga MX season were to end today, the Chivas would be watching the playoffs from home. (Photo by Refugio Ruiz/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Modest Tuneros climb past mighty Chivas</h3>
<p><strong>11. Toluca (+1)</strong></p>
<p>Despite having the worst defense in Liga MX (24 goals allowed), the Diablos Rojos remain a strong playoff contender. However, this weekend <em>“Los Choriceros”</em> face the best offense in Liga MX – the Tigres – so there could be fireworks at<em> “El Volcán.”</em></p>
<p><strong>12. Atlético de San Luis (+1)</strong></p>
<p>The Tuneros are the surprise team of the tournament and their performance looks likely to keep the investment funds flowing from Atlético de Madrid. Since taking over in mid-season, coach André Jardine has converted this humble crew into a genuine playoff contender.</p>
<p><strong>13. Guadalajara (–3)</strong></p>
<p>The Chivas are <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2022/04/14/tuzos-top-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://www.record.com.mx/futbol-liga-mx-chivas/chivas-que-pecados-cometio-leano-que-llevo-al-fracaso-al-rebano">not as good as they think they are</a>, and their financial issues prompted one wag to joke “Guadalajara could turn a profit by buying their players for what they’re actually worth and selling them for what they think they’re worth.” Alexis Vega would be the lone exception.</p>
<p><strong>14. Tijuana (+1)</strong></p>
<p>Xolos coach Sebastián Méndez has been on the firing line since the second month of the season yet he has his team sitting in 12th place, a finish that would see them claim the final wildcard berth.</p>
<p><strong>15. Necaxa (–1)</strong></p>
<p>The Rayos have been a disaster at Estadio Victoria this season (their 1-0-5 record is the worst home record in Liga MX). Three of their final four games are at home. Bye-bye playoff dreams.</p>
<p><strong>16. Querétaro (—)</strong></p>
<p>The Gallos Blancos could squeak into the Liga MX playoffs if they play like they have the past three weeks – a 1-0 loss to the mighty Tigres, a 1-1 draw at León and a 2-1 win over Atlético de San Luis. However, a road trip to Santos Laguna is never easy.</p>
<p><strong>17. Mazatlán FC (+1)</strong></p>
<p>The Cañoneros have never made the Liga MX playoffs since being founded two years ago. Nonetheless, their season-ending focus will be on escaping the “Relegation Penalty Zone.” If they can make up 3 points on Necaxa, they can avoid paying a hefty fine.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Sounders to face Pumas in CCL final" data-url="https://playingfor90.com/2022/04/14/seattle-nycfc-concacaf-champions/" 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/2022/04/14/tuzos-top-liga-mx-power-rankings/"https://playingfor90.com/2022/04/14/seattle-nycfc-concacaf-champions/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Sounders to face Pumas in CCL final </a> </div>
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<p><strong>18. FC Juárez (–1)</strong></p>
<p>The Bravos are in the Liga MX cellar (and at the bottom of the Power Rankings) for a reason: the league’s worst offense – 8 goals in 13 games.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">