The most frequent passes for every Liga MX team

Data from Sofascore, FBref.com, and Golstats, graphic from StatsBomb, photo from FútbolTotal.

The build-up phase can be one of the most difficult parts to analyze when producing an opposition report, especially when trying to use data. There are a large number of passes per match, an average of more than 400 per team in Liga MX, and therefore it’s difficult to organize, visualize and understand any trends coming from pass data.

One method that can be used to group passes together is called clustering. It’s a machine learning technique that creates different groups or classifications of passes, based on characteristics in common, for example, where the passes start and end.

StatsBomb, one of the most important data providers in football, has developed their own pass cluster analysis, with every pass pertaining of one of 60 groups. Last week, StatsBomb uploaded, on X, a visualization to show the most frequent pass clusters for every team in Clausura 2025, which we can use to better understand how teams build-up attacks. Here, we’ll focus on the sides that are still fighting for the Liga MX title.

América

Las Águilas show a tendency to play more on the left flank in both halves of the pitch, due to the importance of Álvaro Fidalgo in their build-up, and Brian Rodríguez in chance creation.

The purple passes show América’s ability to penetrate defenses on the left-wing, and create high quality chances through crosses and cutbacks from inside the box. However, if Brian can’t recover from injury before liguilla, América may have to find other chance creation methods.

Cruz Azul

Many different aspects of Cruz Azul’s build-up appear in their five most frequent pass clusters.

In green and yellow, we can see their confidence in Kevin Mier on the ball, and how La Máquina can attempt to attract a press and play through it. In purple, there are switches of play between the right (Willer Ditta) and left (Jesús Chiquete or Gonzalo Piovi) center-backs in their back-three, looking for space to break the opponent’s first line and progress the ball. Finally, in orange and blue, their left-sided attacks through Carlos Rotondi, and his crosses from wide.

León

León’s two most frequent pass types are the most interesting to analyze. In orange, their right-sided progressive passes, frequently exploiting Stiven Barreiro’s ball progression and the abilities of James Rodríguez or Jhonder Cádiz to hold-up the ball.

In blue, left-to-right switches in the attacking third, making the most of James’ quality, and looking to find Stiven Mendoza or the overlaps from “Chava” Reyes. These passes could be key for León to exploit the space behind Cruz Azul’s wing-backs, something that Eduardo Berizzo attempted in their regular season match.

Monterrey

Rayados rank first this season for their number final third progressions per game, and therefore it isn’t a surprise to see most ball circulation in the opposition half, frequently looking for space for a full-back or winger.

Their progression has come more from the right-wing, due to Sergio Canales’ impact, who has a fairly free role, but has started more on the right in their 4-3-3. Without Canales in recent matches, Martín Demichelis has used a 4-4-2 diamond, still focused on the right-side, with Nelson Deossa the right-interior midfielder.

Each team’s most frequent passer this season, Sergio Canales is the only attacking-midfielder on the list.

Necaxa

The yellow passes, long balls looking for space behind a defensive line, have been important in Necaxa’s direct attacks. They are the longest passes that appear within any side in liguilla, and can be used to make the most of the off-ball runs from striker Diber Cambindo and right-wing-back Kevin Rosero.

Another important pass type for Necaxa is shown in orange, progressive passes in midfield, that can find José Paradela or Agustín Palavecino, their most creative players from the centre of the pitch.

Pachuca

Like América, Pachuca play more to the left to get the most out of their left-winger, Oussama Idrissi. Also, they have good support on the left-side, with full-back Brian González making overlaps and underlaps.

Idrissi can penetrate defenses out wide through ball carries, and complete switches of play to the right side. However, there is an argument that Idrissi doesn’t offer quite enough attacking output to be such a focus of the Pachuca attacks. With 0.33 xG + xA, Idrissi only ranks in the 50th percentile for Liga MX attacking-midfielders.

Pumas UNAM

Pumas’ graphic shows their ability to build-up and maintain possession in the center of the pitch, and their key problem, lack of progression to more dangerous zones.

Only one of Pumas’ most frequent pass clusters actually moves the ball forwards, and of the sides that haven’t been eliminated, no one has managed fewer touches in the box. Playing more direct towards Jorge Ruvalcaba’s movement in-behind is an option for Efraín Juárez, to generate more dangerous passes.

Tigres UANL

Under Veljko Paunovic, and especially in their first matches with Guido Pizarro, Tigres have shown a preference to attack down the right-wing. Playing through Javier Aquino is one factor, but also Juan Brunetta’s decision making. The Argentine has played closer to the defensive line under Pizarro, in a double-pivot, and has a tendency to open his body up and play towards the right.

One way of visualizing the number of passes attempted per pass angle/end location. Whilst Rafael Carioca shows a fairly even distribution between the left and right, Brunetta shows a preference to move the ball towards the right side.

Getting in-behind defenses through these right-sided attacks, and avoiding too many crosses from wide, will be important for Tigres in liguilla.

Toluca

Whilst Toluca have played more direct in moments under “Turco” Mohamed, exploiting space in transition, the team still maintains an ability to dominate possession and build through the center.

With Marcel Ruíz, Héctor Herrera, Franco Romero, and attacking-midfielders that can move inside and drop to receive the ball, Toluca have the technical quality and space occupation to play and progress through the middle. All of their most frequent pass types come from the central zones, and are shorter passes.

Thank you for reading, if you’d like to contact me regarding any questions, comments or to consult my services, you can contact me on:

• Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/tomh36.bsky.social

• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-harrison-a682a2175/

• Twitter/X - https://x.com/tomh_36

También, se puede leer este artículo en Español- https://cambiodejuego.beehiiv.com/