LIGA MX
The numbers behind Club América’s Liga MX Clausura 2023 regression
Las Águilas were comfortably the top team in the Apertura 2022 regular season but now face a fight to finish in the top four.
With just a few games to go until the end of the regular season in Liga MX’s Clausura 2023, Club América are hanging onto fourth spot in the standings, which would see them qualify directly for the quarter-finals of the final phase. The late goal they conceded in a controversial 2-2 draw at home to León, however, means they hold just a two point advantage over Pachuca and Chivas in fifth and sixth place respectively.
Las Águilas haven’t enjoyed anything like the success they had in the Apertura 2022 tournament, when they were top of the table at the end of the regular season, winning 12 of their 17 fixtures, averaging more than two goals scored per game and less than one conceded.
América’s defensive drop-off
One of the main issues for their drop-off in form has been their relative struggles in defence, which have held them back in their 13 Clausura games so far. After conceding twice against León on Saturday, América have already conceded more goals in this tournament (18) than they had in the entirety of the previous one (16), with four matches left to play.
Las Águilas boast the most potent attack
As evidenced in the clash against La Fiera, goalscoring hasn’t been an issue, with no Liga MX side having scored more goals that Los Azulcremas’ 29 in the Clausura 2023. Fernando Ortiz’s men have lost only one of their 13 games but their inability to keep the back door shut has too often seen possible victories end up as draws.
Which team has the best defensive record across the last two Liga MX tournaments?
In the Apertura 2022 tournament, only Monterrey, Tigres and eventual winners Pachuca ended the regular campaign with better defensive records. This term, América have slipped from having the fourth best defensive record to only the ninth, with teams such as Necaxa and Atlético San Luis, who are languishing in the bottom half of the standings, having conceded fewer goals. Querétaro, who have won just one goal all tournament and are in penultimate place, have let in only one more.
As was the case in the previous tournament, Rayados again boast the best defensive record, conceding just nine times in 13 matches. They are, incredibly, nine points better off than second-placed Toluca having dropped only five points so far.