PHOTO CREDIT: Club America Twitter
The Clausura 2015 regular season is now more than half way over. Some team have looked really good like Tijuana Xolos and other really bad like Pumas UNAM and Monarcas Morelia. The rest have had traditional Liga MX up and down swings.
Here are the five teams who have established themselves as contenders for this season’s league title:
1- Club America – 3rd place 14points
America are the reigning Mexican league champions and with the signings done in the offseason it is a heavy favorite to repeat. The Mexico City giants brought in heavy attacking power Carlos Darwin Quintero from Santos and Dario Benedetto from Tijuana Xolos to add to the already dangerous Oribe Peralta. Club America also brought in one of the best central defensive midfielders; Christian Pellerano, also from Tijuana Xolos.
The ‘Aguilas’ have not had the start to the season that it was hoping for. The team is still trying to adjust to new incoming manager Gustavo Matosas, it has dropped points to weaker teams like Leones Negros and Morelia, but despite the struggles America is still in third place of the league table. Once things start clicking and it has fully awaken, it is difficult to see any other team stopping Club America from back-to-back titles.
2- Tijuana Xolos – 1st place 19points
Club Tijuana came into the Clausura 2015 season with the clear objective of reaching the playoffs and now find themselves the as the best team in Mexico so far. Key offseason signing to replace the outgoing players and a great team chemistry established by manager Daniel Guzman has been essential for Tijuana Xolos’ great run in form.
Replacing the talents of Christian Pellerano and Dario Benedetto was never going to be easy. But between the Xolos directors and Guzman they got those gaps filled. Youngster Javier Güemez was given the chance to become a regular starter in Pellerano’s place. Argentine Gabriel Hauche and Brazilian Ricardo Da Silva have also been important additions to strengthen the attacking gap left by Benedetto. Hauche has needed no time at all to settle into Mexican football and already established himself in the Xolos squad with three goals.
3- Cruz Azul – 6th place 14points
Despite not having won a league title in over 17 years, Cruz Azul always seems to find itself in the short list for title contenders season after season. The Mexico City side got off to a fast start and held the top of the table position for several weeks based on its impeccable defense. Back-to-back losses to Chivas and Toluca have dropped it back to sixth place but Cruz Azul remain as a serious candidate to the title.
The Cruz Azul defense did not allow a single goal until the sixth game of the season. Based on this superb defense Cruz Azul was able to reach the top of the standings. But the offensive power has not been all there. Star signing Roque Santa Cruz has not been able to participate much with the team since his arrival due to an injury. But once the Paraguayan is healthy again, it is likely that the Cruz Azul attack will revive and along with the strong defense make a run at the title.
4- Leon – 10th place 11points
Leon might have gotten to a slow start and doesn’t strike fear into many people’s eyes based on its table position but it is a dangerous side if it comes anywhere near the playoffs. Only one point away from Toluca who is in eighth place Leon will become a headache for any team and could make a run at its third league title in as many years.
Leon lost manager Gustavo Matosas who had led the team to a second division championship, a promotion championship, and back-to-back first division league titles. New manager Juan Antonio Pizzi has proven to be very talented and is barely getting use to Mexican football. As games go by Pizzi and his Leon squad will become more and more dangerous.
5- Chivas of Guadalajara – 5th place 14points
Out of pure relegation fear desperation Chivas of Guadalajara have picked up some important points early on in the Clausura 2015 season; enough to see the team in fifth place of the standings with the same amount of points as reigning champions Club America.
If Chivas can secure its relegation safety early enough it will surely let loose all of the pressure involved and begin to play freely. The talents of some if its players under a carefree environment could be a mixture that takes Chivas into a long overdue title run.
