Liga MX ETO Power Rankings: Clausura 2022 Round 3
Jan. 24, 2022 – Well, this is getting interesting.
Defending champions Atlas are now caught up with the rest of the league after a draw against León this past Wednesday (their Round 1 game) and a win over a newly-reinforced América team Saturday. They received most of the first-place votes from our blue-ribbon panel after landing outside the top five each of the last two weeks. Meanwhile, in both the table and our rankings, the rest of the top four consist of teams that each went through a dramatic second-half collapse – further evidence of the wide-open nature of Clausura 2022.
There are no Liga MX games this week due to the FIFA break, so our power rankings will return on Feb. 8, following Round 4. For now, read ‘em and weep:
1. Atlas (2-1-0, 7 pts., +3 GD, 2nd in Liga MX)
They’re just a hair shy of the top spot in the standings – more on that below – but their championship defense is off to a good start. Manager Diego Cocca went so far as to say, “No creo en la campeonitis” after the game against América, praising his team’s commitment and focus through the first three games of Clausura 2022.
2. Cruz Azul (2-1-0, 7 pts., +3 GD, 1st in Liga MX)
When La Maquina won the Guardianes 2021 championship, it seemed like we’d never have to use “Cruzazuleada” again…but here we are, after they allowed two stoppage-time goals in a draw vs. Monterrey. That aside, the two goals Cruz Azul scored Saturday were enough to put them at the top of the table (5 goals to Atlas’s 4). The biggest positive continues to be the play of Uriel Antuna and Charly Rodríguez, who have combined for 3 goals in 3 games and look like the best of the “same faces in new places.”
3. Pumas (2-0-1, 6 pts., +6 GD, 3rd in Liga MX)
After two dominant games and a good first half against Tigres, Pumas fell out of the top of the table and our rankings, thanks to a controversial penalty and an André-Pierre Gignac PK in stoppage time vs. Tigres. Still, with Tijuana next on their schedule, they have a chance to start the tournament with 3 wins in 4 games – something they’ve only done twice in the last 20 years (Apertura 2018, Apertura 2002).
4. Pachuca (2-0-1, 6 pts., +2 GD, 4th in Liga MX)
Same position as last week’s rankings, and 4th in the table due to goal differential; but Tuzos did themselves no favors with the way their second half went against León. Their next opponent is a Necaxa team coming off a 4-goal performance at Santos.
T5. Monterrey (1-2-0, 5 pts., +4 GD, 7th in Liga MX)
As a byproduct of their comeback against Cruz Azul, Monterrey snapped a 4-game scoreless drought at home that dates back to Oct. 16 vs. León. (This accounts for Liga MX games only, and not the CONCACAF Champions League Final that they won later that month.) Rayados will face Egyptian club Al Ahly SC in the FIFA Club World Cup on Feb. 5, so their Round 4 game against Toluca won’t be played until Apr. 6.
T5. Toluca (2-0-1, 6 pts., -2 GD, 6th in Liga MX)
Received one second-place vote from our panel, which was enough to put them in a tie for 5th in our rankings. Leo Fernández made news both on the field – scoring the deciding goal against Mazatlán, his second in as many games – and off the field, with some interesting comments about his time with Tigres. Mark your calendars: Los Diablos have a road game against Tigres on Apr. 16.
Also receiving votes: León, Juarez.
Dropped from last week’s rankings: Puebla.
(Also, one of our panelists jokingly ranked América as 19th, but that’s another story.)
Do you agree or disagree with what we’ve got? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment (below).
Be sure to tune in Thursday at 9 pm E.T./6pm E.T. for the latest episode of El Mexican Soccer Podcast, as we bring you live postgame reaction and analysis of Mexico’s World Cup Qualifier against Jamaica, with special guest “The Soccer O.G.” Max Bretos!
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