The Liga MX Clausura 2017 is still in its early stages with Week 2 of the competition just wrapping up. There have been several controversies and surprises early on, indicating that we are in for an exciting tournament. After a thrilling 2-1 victory over Club America, Toluca F.C lead the way in the Power Rankings for this week.
1 Liga MX Week 2 Power Rankings (Teams #18 to 13):
18. Puebla F.C.
It is hard to find a place to start with the ‘Camoteros’; they have been a mess this season. Their 6-2 loss to Tijuana, was one of the worst losses I have seen in the Liga MX for a while. Puebla’s defense has been pitiful this tournament, having allowed nine goals in two games. Their attacking options are also very limited with Alexis Canelo being an unproven striker in the Liga MX.
17. Club Necaxa
‘Pocho’ Sosa’s men are Puch-less, win-less and score-less to kick off this Clausura 2017. If their Chilean star remains out of the lineup for much longer, Los ‘Rayos’ will struggle heavily this season. .
16. Jaguares of Chiapas
Chiapas did not look too bad in their first game of the Clausura 2017 season as they fell by the minimum score of 1-0 against C.F. Pachuca. Jaguares did produce a few chances and Moises Muñoz was spectacular in his debut with his new team. Muñoz can prove to be instrumental in Chiapas’ fight to remain in the top flight of Mexican football.
15. Club Queretaro
Queretaro have looked abysmal to start off their Clausura 2017 campaign. Los ‘Gallos’ are one of the few teams left that have not scored this season. They have also only conceded one goal so far thanks to star Goalie, Tiago Volpi, who has been their best player this tournament.
14. Club America
The Liga MX has been very competitive this season where a few teams look like they can be dark horses. America was not horrible against Toluca F.C. to start their Clausura 2017, but they were also not great. The void of Osvaldo Martinez and Rubens Sambueza in midfield is very evident and can go on to hurt the team this season. Ricardo La Volpe’s team could have easily lost 4-1 had it not been for Agustin Marsheshin; instead a much more lenient 2-1 score was the result.
13. Tigres UANL
Tigres have not had good results to start off the Clausura 2017; however; one of them was justified. In the first week of action, Tigres did not count with most of their starters against Santos Laguna. Ricardo Ferretti and his men should be able to compose themselves and make playoffs this season.
2 Liga MX Week 2 Power Rankings (Teams #12 to 7):
12.Tiburones Rojos of Veracruz
Tiburones have looked decent to start off the tournament; Carlos Reinoso and all his fresh signings are working hard in their fight against relegation. A win against Queretaro and a slight loss to Santos Laguna is nothing to frown about especially with many of the players just starting to adapt to playing with Veracruz. Next Friday they will have a tough task against Atlas F.C at the Estadio Luis Pirata Fuente.
11. Monarcas Morelia
Morelia have managed to secure four crucial points in their battle for relegation. They are also the only team in the Liga MX who is yet to be scored on. That all has been because of goalkeeper Carlos Felipe Rodriguez, but overall, they still have not looked that great. The tie against Queretaro this week was not impressive as Queretaro looks to be one of the worst teams in the Clausura 2017. Pablo Marini’s men were also dominated in Week 1 against Xolos of Tijuana, despite getting the victory. Morelia will have to work harder in their fight against relegation in 2017.
10.Chivas of Guadalajara
Surprised to see the ‘rojiblancos’ so low on the list? Well, Chivas has been a disaster so far this season, despite what the results might say. Chivas was not good in their season-opener against Pumas UNAM, at best Guadalajara should have tied that game. Then against Monterrey, the players lost their control and received two red cards, including one to captain, Jair Pereira. It was a miracle that they managed to keep the score level at 2-2.
9. Club Leon
Leon’s results to this point of the tournament have been deceiving; in Week 1 they lost 4-2 to Pachuca and in Week 1 they won 1-0 against Necaxa. The loss against Pachuca is controversial because Franco Jara deceived the referee to earn a penalty for the ‘Tuzos’. The penalty turned out to be critical in the game as it did change the course of the game early in the 27th minute. Then the win against Necaxa is very impressive as this marks the first time Necaxa have lost at home since making it back to the Liga MX last season.
8. Cruz Azul
The new leadership of Paco Jemez has really helped the ‘Cementeros’ be more motivated and aspire to win. Even in their 1-0 loss to Pumas UNAM, Cruz Azul was impressive even after Gabriel Peñalba received an unjust red card. Their defense has really looked impressive, applying pressure at all times to their opponents and only allowing one goal in two weeks.
7. Atlas F.C.
Atlas was a completely different team in Week 2 than they were in Week 1. Having Leiton Jimenez and Fidel Martinez starting against Tigres UANL made a big difference for the ‘Zorros’ as they won 2-0. Martinez and Matias Alustiza showed that they will be a deadly duo this season. Clifford Aboagye was also impressive in his Liga MX debut; the Ghanaian midfielder will provide more options for Jose Cruz’s team going forward.
3 Liga MX Week 2 Power Rankings (Teams # to 1):
6. Santos Laguna
‘Chepo’ De La Torre’s squad has done well to kick off the Liga MX, accumulating four points to this point. The fact they could face Tigres without their rival’s full squad in Week 1 is a victory in its own right as getting points at ‘El Volcan’ is a tough task to accomplish. As an encore, the ‘Guerreros’ won their first game of the season at home against Veracruz. Their defense was solid and Jonathan Rodriguez was clinical scoring two goals, to secure the 2-1 victory.
5. C.F. Monterrey
Rayados of Monterrey look to be back on track to being the imposing force they had been before last season. Monterrey did fail to beat Chivas with two more men on the pitch this week, but overall, they did look solid. Antonio Mohammed’s men have now scored five goals in two weeks and it looks like offense will carry them throughout the season.
4. Xolos of Tijuana
The Xolos showed just how deadly they can be at home this week by beating Puebla F.C. by a score of 6-2. Tijuana did lose the first week 2-0 against Monarcas Morelia, but they were the better team in that match. While Tijuana has only faced weaker teams at this point of the tournament, based on overall performance, Miguel Herrera’s team do deserve to be this high up on the list.
3. Pumas UNAM
Pumas have looked great to start off this Clausura 2017, even though they did lose against Chivas 2-1 in Week 1. Pumas were far superior to Guadalajara in that game and at best Chivas should have gotten one point based on performance. This week, Pumas did great in an intense game against Cruz Azul and took home the victory, 1-0. Their defense has been the most impressive with young players, Alan Mendoza and Josecarlos Van Rankin and veterans Gerardo Alcoba and Dario Veron.
2. C.F. Pachuca
Pachuca is the only other team in the Liga MX with six points at this stage of the competition; they started off hot with a 4-2 win over Leon away from home, with Hirving Lozano scoring a hat-trick. The ‘Tuzos’ did not look as strong this week against Jaguares of Chiapas, only coming away with a 1-0 win at the Estadio Hidalgo. Jaguares, goalkeeper, Moises Munoz, played a big role in the slim 1-0 victory, as he had many saves to keep the score down.
1.Toluca F.C.
The ‘Diablos’ have accumulated six points and six goals two weeks into the competition. In Week 1 Toluca managed to beat Atlas F.C. 4-1, who showed everyone they are no chumps by beating champions Tigres UANL 2-0 this week. Now in Week 2, Toluca beat Apertura 2016 runners-up, Club America, 2-1 in an intense dual that celebrated the ‘Diablos’ 100th anniversary.
