Liga MX ETO Power Rankings: Clausura 2022 Round 12
Apr. 4, 2022 – We begin this edition of our Liga MX power rankings with a correction. In last week’s rankings, we referred to a big upcoming matchup between Tigres and Pachuca as being part of the Round 13 slate of games. Per Liga MX’s schedule, it is in fact a Round 9 game that had been postponed in response to the violence at Estadio Corregidora on Mar. 5th. Our apologies for the error.
That said, we’ve really been looking forward to this game, as both teams have risen up the standings the last few weeks and Tigres have continued to challenge for first. And Tigres will finally be in first when these teams square off, having defeated Tijuana Sunday night at the same time that Pachuca lost to Santos. Those two results were enough to convince our blue-ribbon panel to unanimously vote UANL as the number-one team in the league.
Beyond that, there’s a lot of room for debate as to who is next-best. Other than Tigres, eight different teams received votes this week; and after counting everything up, we arrived at a top five that’s significantly different from the Liga MX table. Agree or disagree with our list? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.
1. Tigres (8-2-1, 26 pts., +11 GD, 1st in Liga MX)
Three consecutive shutouts, 8-1-0 in their last 9 games, and Super Lideres for the first time since Clausura 2019 (when they last won a championship). André-Pierre Gignac scored for a ninth consecutive game – extending his own career high; and, per TUDN, matching Isidro Lángara’s record for longest goal streak by a European player. We realize we’re repeating/updating these stats in our rankings each week, and that’s because it all bears repeating: This is sustained excellence – at team and individual levels – which is hard to come by in sports.
2. Cruz Azul (6-2-0, 20 pts., +4 GD, 4th in Liga MX)
Back in our top five after missing the cut last week. A few weeks ago, following Round 10, we identified an apparent trend of alternating highs and lows from Cruz Azul recently. Since then, they’ve had a Round 11 loss to Pachuca that saw disarray in the offense and a late-game red card…and bounced back from that with a Round 12 win against a top-4 Atlas team. Saturday’s game had some good moments – and some undoubtedly big breaks for La Maquina, with two Atlas goals disallowed due to a handball and an offside. Over the next week, Cruz Azul faces Pumas in CONCACAF Champions League play, followed by Mazatlán in Liga MX play. Will the pattern hold up, or will their good fortunes hold up?
3. Pachuca (8-1-2, 25 pts., +11 GD, 2nd in Liga MX)
Pachuca’s seven-game unbeaten streak and five-game win streak ended Sunday, with a resounding loss to Santos – and only Nicolás Ibáñez’s 8th goal of the tournament, at the 82nd minute, kept it from being a shutout. Things could be far worse – Tuzos are only a point away from the top spot, and in no danger of losing a top-four position soon, heading into Thursday’s tilt with Tigres.
4. León (5-4-3, 19 pts., 0 GD, 6th in Liga MX)
One point shy of the top four for the second straight week, and still on a good run overall lately (4-2-1 in their last seven games). This time, though, they were seemingly fortunate to escape with a draw against Querétaro – thanks to a controversial VAR ruling that led to Ángel Mena repeating a penalty kick and converting. San Luis completes a weak portion of their schedule this Saturday, and then it’s a slumping Puebla squad next Saturday.
5. Santos (4-3-5, 15 pts., 0 GD, 10th in Liga MX)
Santos continues its gradual move back up the table with its biggest win of Clausura 2022, taking down then-first place Pachuca. They’re 4-1-1 under interim coach Eduardo Fentanes, with wins over Cruz Azul and Pumas during that span as well. With Monterrey, Querétaro and Mazatlán next on the schedule, Santos has a good chance of staying in the playoff picture.
Also receiving votes: Puebla, Monterrey, Toluca, Pumas.
Dropped from last week’s rankings: Puebla, Atlas.
Be sure to tune in Thursday at 9pm E.T./6pm P.T. for the latest episode of El Mexican Soccer Podcast, as we get you set for this weekend’s games and discuss what’s next for La Seleccion after the World Cup draw!
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