Liga MX: VLMX Power Rankings after Jornada 9

Jornada 9 provided a shakeup to the Liga MX table. This week’s power rankings follow a similar theme.

The top 2 teams heading into the weekend both fell at the hands of clubs outside of the top 8, Santos and America had impressive wins, and Atlas is back to not scoring. It all culminates to the most important table and that’s the VLMX power rankings.

The top 3 remain the same, but Pumas shoots up the rankings after their 4-2 at Lobos. The team doesn’t have much sympathy for Queretaro. They fell 4 spots after losing 1-0 to Puebla.

The Rankings

1. Cruz Azul (+0)
Tom Buckley (TB): A letdown after the FIFA break? Cementeros still have 3-point cushion atop table.
Tom Freeman-Eves (TFE): Despite a first loss of the season, Cruz Azul are still top dog for now

2. Santos Laguna (+0)
Garett Kerber (GK): A match against an up-and-coming Leon side looked like it’d be a good measuring stick for both sides. Santos switched up their starting XI, a bit, and pounded Leon with a potent offense and excellent defense.
Tom Buckley (TB): When Santos’ defense plays as well as it did vs León, they are unbeatable.

3. Club America (+0)
TFE: America showing why they were many people’s favourites coming in to the start of the season..
GK: A good win against a good team further cements Las Aguilas as one of the top teams in Liga MX

4. Pumas (+5)
GK: A 4-2 win against Lobos is an example of taking care of the teams you should if you’re a Liguilla team. Pumas keeps hanging around the top, despite the unconvincing nature of their victories.
TB: Still unconvincing but if they beat Morelia, Puebla next … they’ll be sitting pretty.
TFE: Pumas are odd to me. Certainly not good enough to be in 2nd but I honestly have no idea how good they really are.

5. Toluca ( +0)
GK: Made it interesting, but Toluca got it done against Veracruz.
TFE: Lucky that they were playing Veracruz this week or it could have been a very different result.

6. Monterrey (-2)
TFE: Monterrey just can’t seem to get it together this season. Underwhelming.
TB: Listless play and now the injury bug. A bad combination.
GK: A dreadful performance against Chivas.

7. Tigres (+0)
TFE: Tigres suffering from the same lethargy as Monterrey. Overwhelming talent, underwhelming performances
TB: Tigres seem to play just well enough to earn points. Clásico Regio next.

8. Pachuca (+3)
GK: Pachuca had a 1-0 lead at half against Tigres but couldn’t ultimately hold on for the full 3 points. Looks like they are starting to settle in to the middle of the pack in Liga MX.
TB: Pachuca playing with growing confidence, but vulnerable at the back.
TFE: A middle ground team not quite good enough to challenge

9. Chivas (+3)
TB: Great comeback pushes Rebaño Sagrado into playoff contention.
TFE: Massive win over Monterrey sees Chivas’ Liguilla hopes fully back on.
GK: Fantastic win for Chivas on the road

10. Queretaro (-4)
GK: That scoring touch they had against Monarcas was nowhere to be found against Puebla
TB: Must find someone other than Sanvezzo to score. Only 4 teams have fewer goals.

11. Monarcas (-3)
TFE: A loss to America is nothing to be ashamed of but, the red cards leave a sour taste. Could come back to bite them in a big way.
GK: Made the match look closer than it was at the end, but the subsequent red cards at the end of the match could prove more costly than the loss to America

12. Puebla (+1)
GK: Surprise road win against Queretaro. Unfortunately, the win said more about Queretaro than Puebla, who only managed 36% possession and committed 20 fouls.
TFE: Puebla with that big away win. Having possession and taking shots is overrated anyway.

13. Necaxa (+2)
TB: Maybe the Rayos only get up for the best teams.
GK: I called it! Not because I’m smart exactly….

14. Leon (-4)
GK: Leon produced 0 shots on target in the match against Santos despite 12 total shots.
TFE: Absolutely schooled by Santos this week. I honestly think León are lucky to be as high in the table as they are.

15. Club Tijuana (-1)
TFE: XOLOS HAVE WON AWAY FROM HOME! They’re still bad though
TB: Another uninspiring 1-0 win, but 3 points are 3 points.
GK: Well they beat Atlas somehow. Looking at the stats from the match, you’d think Xolos were basically watching Atlas play. They made just 241 passes, 69 of them long balls

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16. Veracruz (+0)
TFE: Everything says that Veracruz should be awful but they’re weirdly not. Unlucky not to grab a draw at the weekend
TB: We keep counting this team out, but they simply never give up.

17. Lobos (+0)
GK: Shrug. What do you want me to say?
TFE: Lobos fans, it’s not looking great for you guys. But, at least you’re not Atlas.
TB: Maybe the Lobos can sneak up on discomposed León in Matchday 10.

18. Atlas (+0)
GK: If you’re Atlas, you have to wonder what else you have to do to win a match. 21 total shots, 63% possession, 0 goals, 0 points.
TB: After shattering loss in Copa to Zacatepec, Tijuana outcome was easy to predict.