Mexico Apertura mid-season recap
The official half-way mark of the Mexico Apertura has been reached with nine weeks now played. Here's a look at who has made the headlines in each group so far this season.
Group 1
Although Mexico City's Cruz Azul in group 3 lead the overall rankings, it is two clubs from group 1, Monterrey and Santos Laguna, who are close behind with 19 and 18 points respectively after nine games. Monterrey, in fact, remains the only team in Mexico
who are still undefeated as they look to continue from where they left off when they were top of the table in last season's Torneo Bicentenario. Their success this season has been due in a large part to the return of striker Humberto Suazo who has eight goals
already this season.
The only man to really have outclassed him this season has been Santos striker Christian Benitez who has 10 goals, and has scored in eight of Santos' nine matches. One of Mexico's biggest and most storied clubs, Guadalajara, have been a disappointment so
far this season and currently sits in fourth place in the group with only 10 points so far this season. Chivas finished second in the group stage of last season's Bicentenario and made it to the final of the Copa Libertadores before falling to Brazilian club,
Internacional, 5-3 over two legs. Chivas will hope for a return to form in the second half of the Apertura season.
Group 2
With Toluca, America, and San Luis Potosi sitting just behind the top two sides from group 1, it is actually the abysmal play of bottom side Atlas that has been making headlines in group 2. The team sits dead last in the standings with only four points.
They only managed their first win of the season when they defeated mid-table side Puebla last weekend, and in the nine matches they've played they have scored a mere five goals. They've lost seven times
– two more than the next worst clubs, Tecos from group 1, and fellow group 2 bottom dwellers Atlante.
Group 3
Mexico City side Cruz Azul are once again the team to beat in Mexico. After a disappointing Torneo Bicentenario, which saw them miss out on the play-offs, Cruz Azul has shot back to where it has always felt it belonged. With a potent offence Cruz Azul has
scored 22 goals in nine games this season
– more than any other club in Mexico so far. Led by the likes of Chaco Gimenez, Emanuel Villa, and Javier Orozco Cruz, Azul continues to cause headaches for the opposition. Cruz Azul has a difficult schedule ahead of them in the next few weeks including
games against crosstown rivals America, and both Santos Laguna and Monterrey who are hot on the heals of the league leaders.
Outlook
With eight weeks to go, Cruz Azul, Monterrey, Santos Laguna, America, and Toluca look to be on pace to qualify for the Apertura play-offs, while Atlas, Atlante, Tecos, and Pachuca look destined to be watching the Apertura play-offs from home. There is only
two points separating the remaining eight sides. Of them, Jaguares de Chiapas, who have been steadily improving over recent weeks, seem the likeliest bet to make it into the play-offs. Despite some poor results this season, one can never count out Chivas.
If they can get their act together they and UNAM, the third of the major sides from the capital city, should round out the top eight.
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