Liga MX ETO Power Rankings: Clausura 2022 Round 17
May 2, 2022 – Now that the regular season is over, what did we learn?
- We learned that coaching changes can work, and to great effect: Of the twelve teams in Liguilla, six changed managers at some point in the last few months during Clausura 2022 – most notably, América, who went on an 8-game unbeaten streak to reach the quarterfinals; and Chivas, who won four straight to make the playoffs and get home field in Repechaje.
- We learned to never truly count any team out. América and Chivas are, of course, the standout examples; but ESPN.com has more on all of the squads that managed to stay alive in the tournament and how that became a theme throughout the league.
- And, although we’ve said so before in the last few months, it bears repeating: We learned that we don’t really know anything. The very first week of our rankings, we had Pumas as the near-consensus number-one team – and they fell out of the top of the table soon after, and dropped out of our rankings for a couple months, before finally making it into Liguilla on the last day of the season. Our number-two team that first week was Cruz Azul, who had an uneven season and proved that just because they ended their championship drought, the idea of the cruzazuleada isn’t yet dead. And while Pachuca was in our first top five, who would’ve picked them to be on top heading into the playoffs?
Our observation here is that power rankings, week by week, serve as a snapshot of the state of their respective leagues; and collectively, show just how much things can change over the course of a season. It’s a fun, and surprisingly educational, exercise.
On that note, we’ve arrived at the final top five of Clausura 2022. But first, it’s necessary to give some thanks:
- To our blue-ribbon panel – the commentators for El Tri Online’s flagship show, El Mexican Soccer Podcast – for their participation every week: Hugo Bernal, El Super Mojado, Fernando Garcia, Samara Perez, Edwin Cazares, Elmur Souza and Ramon Chavez;
- To ETO’s content/operations management for their continued support and feedback: Daniel Flores, Louis Bravo and Luiz Peres;
- To ETO’s founder, Joe Rodriguez, for entrusting us with these weekly rankings, among other responsibilities. Hopefully we made them into everything he envisioned and more;
- And to you, for reading and responding.
So, for the last time in Clausura 2022…read ‘em and weep:
1. Pachuca (12-2-3, 38 pts., +15 GD, 1st in Liga MX)
Automatically qualified for the quarterfinals. Tuzos had already clinched the top spot in the table, so yesterday’s loss – unexpected as it may have been – meant far more for Pumas’ playoff hopes. Meanwhile, Pachuca finishes at the top for the first time since Clausura 2009, and the fourth time overall since being promoted to the First Division. Their history in that position looks good: Runners-up in Clausura 2009, champions in Clausura 2007 and Clausura 2006.
2. América (7-5-5, 26 pts., +7 GD, 4th in Liga MX)
Automatically qualified for the quarterfinals. Despite a Clásico Joven that didn’t quite live up to the hype, a draw (along with “help” from other teams) was enough to move América up to 4th in the table – the highest they’ve been all tournament. And after falling to the bottom of the table midway through Clausura 2022, Aguilas are back in the upper echelon of the league, having gone 6-2-0 under interim manager Fernando Ortiz. No matter what happens from here, you couldn’t have asked for much more than that.
3. Tigres (10-3-4, 33 pts., +10 GD, 2nd in Liga MX)
Automatically qualified for the quarterfinals. This has been assured for some time now, and ultimately hasn’t been affected by a recent slump. Despite having gone winless in 4 of 6, manager Piojo Herrera was adamant about seeing the positives in Saturday’s draw against Atlas, considering that several players including André-Pierre Gignac were out. The extra week off should provide a better idea of the timetable for Gignac’s return.
4. Atlas (7-6-4, 27 pts., +6 GD, 3rd in Liga MX)
Automatically qualified for the quarterfinals. After taking a step back by losing to Mazatlán in Round 14, Atlas recovered fairly well in the jornada doble with a draw against Monterrey, followed by a win over Toluca. Despite not being able to hang on to a lead against Tigres late, their draw – combined with a Puebla loss the night before – was enough to clinch a place in the top four. Los Rojinegros already made history by breaking a 70-year title drought, and the bye helps their chances of becoming the first back-to-back champions since León in 2013-14. They’ll have to do it, though, without Jairo Torres, who’s headed to the MLS’s Chicago Fire as of the end of the regular season.
5. Guadalajara (7-5-5, 26 pts., +4 GD, 6th in Liga MX)
Repechaje matchup: Home vs. Pumas. What a difference a month makes: Just outside of the playoffs after 13 rounds, they enter Liguilla having won four straight for the first time since Guardianes 2020. And this last win was the most dramatic of them all – with Chivas overcoming a VAR controversy and breaking a scoreless tie on a Miguel Ponce header in the 89th minute. A team that looked hopeless under Marcelo Michel Leaño, has been resurrected under interim manager Ricardo Cadena – and seemingly at the right time.
Also receiving votes: Puebla, Mazatlán, Monterrey.
Dropped from last week’s rankings: Necaxa.
Do you agree or disagree with our rankings? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment, and 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 Liguilla!
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