Jornada 8 Review

Data from fotmob and wyscout. Photo from goal.com

Necaxa (2.32 xG) 3 - 1 (0.28 xG) Mazatlán

After eight games, Mazatlán have created more xG through set-pieces than open play. Luis Amarilla’s injury is a factor, but their movements in the winter window have left the squad without enough quality in attack. Mazatlán lost their most productive attacking players (Josué Colmán and Brian Rubio) and their most talented young player (Ramiro Árciga). The only attacking addition, Anderson Duarte, has had little impact, whilst Rodolfo Pizarro has offered next to nothing.

Whilst Víctor Manuel Vucetich doesn’t have much to work with, he deserves some criticism for their defensive organization in this match. Necaxa could progress and attack with ease, as Mazatlán’s front-two attempted to press from a mid-block, but without any support from behind them.

For example, before the first goal. Necaxa have moved the ball to José Rodríguez, and the midfielder has space and an open passing lane to find José Paradela. Mazatlán’s organization is too zonal and doesn’t adjust for the opponent’s positioning, maintaining their back-five without it being necessary (they don’t need a 3vs1) and a triangle in midfield that doesn’t help to press or block passing lanes.

Puebla (2.35 xG) 2 - 0 (1.10 xG) Tijuana

Tijuana attempted more than 70 long balls in a single match for the first time this season. It was a more direct Xolos, especially in their build-up phase, impacted by a rather effective press from Puebla.

The 29th minute penalty helped Puebla to control the match, but Pablo Guede’s side deserve credit for how they continued to create moments of high pressure and midfield recoveries, rather than just sticking in a low-block. Also, Puebla could maintain a threat in attack, exploiting spaces left by Xolos, eventually finding a second goal to secure the three points.

Juárez (0.16 xG) 0 - 4 (2.47 xG) Toluca

It looks like the second-half versus León has become a turning point in Toluca’s season. Turco Mohamed switched his system to play with two strikers, supported by attacking midfielders that roam inside and attacking runs from Marcel Ruíz and the full-backs. Los Diablos Rojos have started with Robert Morales and Paulinho up-front in their previous two matches, winning both.

Toluca may suffer with this more attacking approach against stronger sides, but in many matches this is a method of exploiting the attacking talent that Mohamed has. Also, it’s created tactical problems for opponents, with and without the ball.

Toluca’s first goal is a perfect example. Juárez tend to create a back-5 with José Rodríguez performing the defensive role of a wing-back, and here he has the responsibility of Jesús Angulo after a rotation with Brian Garcia. But Juárez don’t adjust for Marcel’s movement, and centre-back Jesús Murillo is caught in-between Ruiz and Paulinho. Alexis Vega receives the switch/cross from Angulo and sets-up Paulinho, unmarked in the box.

The third goal was a Sebastián Jurado error, but Toluca’s press is noteworthy, with the four attackers plus a midfielder (Franco Romero in this case) marking Juárez’s options to build-up.

Monterrey (2.25 xG) 3 - 1 (0.36 xG) Atlético San Luis

A very comfortable Monterrey win in Sergio Ramos’ debut, as San Luis struggled with the same problems. Once again, Domenec Torrent’s side suffered on their right-side of defense, and conceded shots after losing the ball in their build-up phase.

Despite having a rather old attack, Martín Demichelis has focused on his team’s high press this season. Their PPDA is under eight during Clausura 2025 (third best of the tournament) and in this match Monterrey created seven shots following a ball recovery in the opposing half.

Attacking decision making was also improved versus San Luis. Los Rayados have attempted too many shots from distance in 2024-25, part of their lack of final third efficiency, but attempted 17 of their 21 shots on Saturday from inside the box.

Monterrey shot map vs San Luis from fotmob

Sergio Ramos didn’t have much defending to do, but showed his aerial strength, winning four of four aerial duels, with four headed shots.

Guadalajara (0.69 xG) 2 - 1 (1.10 xG) Pachuca

Chivas were the only team this jornada to win despite generating less xG than their opponents, and they enjoyed a fair slice of luck in Alan Pulido’s goal, assisted by Ponchito González’s poor control.

With the advantage at half-time, Chivas tried to hold-on for the rest of the match, and only managed a single touch inside the Pachuca penalty box. Los Tuzos had 18, but apart from Salomón Rondón’s disallowed goal, Chivas could limit their attacking creation, despite playing the final minutes with 10 players after Miguel Tapías was sent off. Óscar Garcia’s defense is their main strength after eight matches, with one of the best xG against figures in Clausura 2025.

León (1.03 xG) 1 - 0 (0.38 xG) Tigres UANL

Injuries and suspensions can have major impacts on team performance, and sometimes it isn’t economically viable or sensible to have too many options in a single position. Two options up-front have been more than enough for Tigres in recent seasons, and there’s an argument that Nico Ibáñez hasn’t played enough minutes in the past. But with Ibáñez suspended, André-Pierre Gignac injured and Veljko Paunovic deciding against calling-up a striker from the academy, Tigres faced the league leaders without a striker.

Paunovic decided to use Juan Vigón and Guido Pizarro (arriving from midfield) to occupy the box and use their aerial abilities, with the full-backs moving-up to create wide combinations and crossing opportunities. But León defended these situations fairly easily, and could attack the space left by the attacking full-backs in transition. Also, with Tigres’ wide forwards moving inside at times and a lack of threat in-behind, León could be aggressive in the centre of their own half, which was often too congested. Stiven Barreiro was especially effective, winning all of his duels, with a total of six recoveries and five clearances.

Dark blue zones show where the players had more touches vs León

I believe that Tigres needed Uriel Antuna’s movement without having a natural striker, and he almost earned them a late draw. However, with their seventh goal in the first 15 minutes of matches, León stay top.

Pumas UNAM (0.53 xG) 0 - 2 (1.75 xG) América

Talking of injuries, Pumas faced Las Águilas without two centre-backs and Jorge Ruvalcaba. América dominated the clásico capitalino, and Pumas’ lack of creativity continues to be an issue.

André Jardine’s team often attacked Pumas’ improvised back-line on the left, with switches of play and vertical balls to try to find Brian Rodríguez, plus Álvaro Fidalgo arriving into the box. Rodríguez and Fidalgo attempted five of América’s seven open play shots inside the box, and the Spaniard scored the second goal of the match.

Santos Laguna (1.19 xG) 2 - 0 (0.70 xG) Atlas

For the first time since September, Santos Laguna have won a match. Bruno Barticciotto has suffered with injury problems in the past, but his performances with Talleres showed his ability to create an attacking threat that Los Guerreros haven’t had in the last few seasons. Barticciotto scored both goals, with precise finishing with his head and right-food, plus made four key passes.

It’s been an awful week for Atlas, after losing 4-0 versus Necaxa, and once again their problems when attempting to build-up with patience, focusing on the left side, were clear to see. Gonzalo Pineda’s team rank last for final third entries, and Atlas are fulfilling my pre-season prediction that they’d struggle to adapt to Pineda’s style of play, considering the centre-backs in the squad.

There’s an important decision to make now. It’s only worth sticking with Pineda if there’s a medium-to-long-term plan to change the play style and re-structure the squad. If this isn’t Atlas’ plan, it’s better to accept that bringing-in Pineda was an error, and find a head coach whose style better suits the players.

Cruz Azul (1.87 xG) 1 - 0 (0.21 xG) Querétaro

I don’t remember many jornadas with so many comfortable wins, but this weekend, every “favorite”, or team with a significant financial advantage over their opponent (Toluca, Monterrey, América, Cruz Azul), dominated and won their games.

Lining-up in a back-four so often plays into La Máquina’s hands, and Cruz Azul created enough chances in this match to have won more comfortably. Mateusz Bogusz was guilty of missing a few good chances, ending the match with four shots, 0.71 xG, but zero shots on target. In the end. Ángel Sepúlveda scored the only goal of the game, in the 76th minute, after good combination play on the left.

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