Football
Eric Gomez, Mexico writer 6y

Liga MX Power Rankings: Cruz Azul still on top as Santos Laguna dips

Before we get to this week's Power Rankings, we would be remiss to omit mention of the violence that overshadowed Sunday's Tigres vs. Monterrey match.

Such scenes taint our enjoyment of the game, and this latest incident leaves Liga MX -- once again -- at a crossroads. It simply must act; ignorance is not viable. No fan, regardless of affiliation, should have to fear for his or her safety.

With that, here are the Power Rankings for Week 10:

1. CRUZ AZUL

Record: 7W-2D-1L
Week 9 ranking: 1

The league leaders faced off against the worst team in Liga MX. We've seen similar occasions become trap games for the squads up top -- not this time. Cruz Azul's second goal alone in the eventual 2-0 win over Atlas was worth the price of admission: Jose Maduena's back-heel flick enabled Milton Caraglio to blast the ball into the net.

2. CLUB AMERICA

Record: 6W-2D-2L
Week 9 ranking: 2

It had been four years since Club America last defeated Puebla, and for a while it looked like the streak would continue. Twice, the Mexico City giant lost the lead against a determined Puebla side that displayed long stretches of good football. Bruno Valdez's last-gasp goal granted a 3-2 win for America in what ended up being the most entertaining game of the weekend.

3. PUMAS UNAM

Record: 5W-3D-2L
Week 9 ranking: 4

A tough match for Pumas in Morelia on Friday. Although they managed to get 10 shots off during the game, they only accounted for 42 percent of possession. However, their defense stood pat against a team desperate to win and walked out with a 0-0 draw in horrid weather. If the result seems disappointing, it's easy to forget Pumas wasn't on anyone's list to be in the upper echelon of the league table.

4. TOLUCA

Record: 6W-1D-3L
Week 9 ranking: 5

Toluca and Necaxa combined for 39 shots on Saturday. The game at the Nemesio Diez was a physically intense, no-defense shootout that looked like it could go either way at various points during the evening. Rodrigo Salinas continues to impress (and beg for a national team call), while 20-year-old Alexis Vega came up with a clutch goal to secure the 3-2 victory.

5. SANTOS LAGUNA

Record: 5W-3D-2L
Week 9 ranking: 3

How does this team draw at home against one of the worst teams in recent memory? Not only do they draw, but were also outshot and outplayed by Veracruz for large stretches. Jonathan Rodriguez showed up and scored, but Julio Furch and Brian Lozano were uncharacteristically inefficient.

6. UANL TIGRES

Record: 4W-3D-3L
Week 9 ranking: 6

Given what happened before the game, it's hard to gauge how it affected the play on the field, if the players and coaching staffs knew about it. The Clasico Regio was a jumbled mess on the pitch, fitting given the events that marred the contest before the first whistle sounded.

7. MONTERREY

Record: 5W-2D-3L
Week 9 ranking: 7

See above.

8. CHIVAS

Record: 4W-2D-4L
Week 9 ranking: 9

The game between Chivas and Queretaro was an opportunity for Jose Cardozo's team to gauge its progress in recent weeks against a good opponent. The match did not disappoint, with both teams slugging out a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Akron. Queretaro tried -- and failed -- to dominate play, a positive takeaway for Chivas as they jostle for a playoff spot after a tough start.

9. QUERETARO

Record: 4W-3D-3L
Week 9 ranking: 10

Not the best game for Rafa Puente's men, but at the end of the day a point away from home is never anything to scoff at. Still, the one shot on goal is troubling and losing the possession battle is as well for a team that depends on shot volume and dominating play in order to obtain positive results.

10. NECAXA

Record: 3W-2D-5L
Week 9 ranking: 8

Necaxa's brand of carefree, attacking soccer is, as we've said in past columns, admirable and entertaining, but not the best strategy to pursue at all times. Teams know what to expect now when facing Necaxa, and Toluca pounced on the opportunity to engage it in a shootout. The team with the better players won.

11. PUEBLA

Record: 4W-1D-5L
Week 9 ranking: 11

Hard to penalize Puebla for losing at home in the final moments of a tough game against a higher-quality opponent in America. Enrique Meza's team hung in there for 90-plus minutes and even dominated a few stretches of play. It's disappointing to come away with nothing, but the silver lining is Puebla is two points below the eighth-placed team.

12. PACHUCA

Record: 3W-3D-4L
Week 9 ranking: 12

Despite ending the game two men down, Pachuca held the ball for 60 percent of the match and outshot Tijuana 13-11. How did they lose? Good question. After Erick Torres scored the game's only goal at the start of the second half, Pako Ayestaran's team slowly crumbled.

13. MORELIA

Record: 3W-4D-3L
Week 9 ranking: 13

A strong performance for Morelia that was not, however, punctuated by effectiveness in front of goal. Diego Valdes looked off in midfield, while the introduction of Carlos Fierro was too late in the game to make a difference due to the rain that eventually stopped it cold.

14. CLUB TIJUANA

Record: 4W-3D-3L
Week 9 ranking: 15

Gritty performance from Xolos, who beat Pachuca despite looking to be on the ropes for most of the contest. Only two teams have scored fewer goals than Tijuana in the Apertura 2018, but this team has won more games than it's lost. Is it sustainable? Only time will tell.

15. VERACRUZ

Record: 2W-2D-6L
Week 9 ranking: 16

Any positive result is something to smile about at this point. The 1-1 draw at Santos was Veracruz's first away draw since January. Its past two visits to opposing stadiums had yielded two losses in which it allowed eight goals and scored just one. Yeah, it'll take this.

16. LEON

Record: 3W-1D-6L
Week 9 ranking: 14

Another game affected by weather; this one was allowed to finish, but the rain affected both teams, most notably Leon, who had a clear chance on goal with Mauro Boselli, who shot past the Lobos goalkeeper, only to watch the ball grind to a halt in a puddle. After a second-half delay, Lobos grabbed an unlikely victory.

17. LOBOS BUAP

Record: 2W-1D-6L
Week 9 ranking: 17

The result against Leon was completely against the run of play, but it's not something anyone within the Puebla-based side will complain about. Leonardo Ramos' 88th-minute strike was Lobos' only shot on goal for the entire match.

18. ATLAS

Record: 0W-2D-8L
Week 9 ranking: 18

Good fight from Atlas against a far mightier opponent on Saturday. Under new coach Guillermo Hoyos, the Guadalajara side actually outshot Cruz Azul and managed to put together some nifty offensive play, although once again it didn't score.

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