Statistics show that the Mexican league, Liga MX, is one of the least attacking in the world

According to a study by the CIES Football Observatory, which analysed the offensive style of 75 different leagues in world football, in terms of positional, quick and direct attacks, covering 18,000 games, Liga MX was placed in the group of competitions whose teams have an offensive playing style that can be defined as “waiting”.

The 75 leagues studied were divided into four categories based on the statistics recorded for the number of counterattacks per game (Mexico had 13) and the number of passes received by teammates in the opposing third (Mexico had 93), as shown in figure 2. Liga MX is located in the group that attack the least in the world, with a “low” number of counterattacks and passes in the opponent’s half of the pitch.

Mexico are below average in counter-attacks and opposition third passes

This group is made up of 18 leagues that present below-average statistics both in counter-attacking play and in passes received in the opposition third. These leagues include, among others, the two top German divisions, with counterattack values very close to the average, the Portuguese first and second divisions as well as those of China, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and, of course, Mexico.

The report also points out that the study is based on data at the league level, according to the attacking style of play carried out, but not the dominant style of each particular club which can clearly be different from the average style of the league as a whole.