After almost a month off Liga MX returns this Thursday with Atletico San Luis facing Pachuca. The likes of Atlas and Leon will look to continue their success from the Apertura, while Chivas, Rayados, and Cruz Azul will attempt to recover from a lackluster Apertura. Although relegation is currently suspended, Xolos and Queretaro will be desperate to improve after finishing at the bottom of the Apertura table.
Atlas
The defending champions will be trying to retain their crown after a 70-year championship drought. Julio Furch will hope to continue his impressive scoring form from the first part of the season. Camilo Vargas kept the most clean sheets in the Apertura and will be aspiring to do the same in the Clausura. Attacker Julian Quinones will look to improve on a good Apertura.
Player to Watch: Julian Quinones
2021 Apertura: Finished second in the table(won the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 6th
Atletico San Luis just snuck into the luguilla in the Apertura, but there is plenty of room for them to improve. New signing Rubans Sambueza could provide a bright spark for a side in poor form. They failed to win any of their last 8 games of the Apertura. They also only scored three goals in this dreadful period. Going into the second part of the season with poor form will be difficult for San Luis, and I cannot see them improving much in the Clausura.
Player to Watch: Rubans Sambueza
2021 Apertura: Finished 12th in the table(lost in the 1st round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 18th
Chivas Guadalajara
After a lackluster Apertura Chivas will be looking to challenge for the title in the Clausura. Chivas have already made some big moves in the transfer window and don’t look like they’re quite done this window. Chivas have completed the signing of 23-year-old Roberto Alvarado from Cruz Azul. Chivas have been linked to winger Jurgen Damm and Marco Fabian to help challenge for the title.
Player to Watch: Roberto Alvarado
2021 Apertura: Finished 10th in the table(lost in the 1st round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 4th
Club America
Club America will no doubt be one of the favorites to win the Clausura this year. After getting knocked out by Pumas in the Apertura liguilla Las Aguilas will be hungry to return to glory. Their last title was the 2018/19 Apertura. They have already made some massive signings in Jonathan Dos Santos and Diego Valdes. Even with the loss of Sebastian Cordova Club America has more than enough talent to have plenty of success.
Player to Watch: Deigo Valdes
2021 Apertura: Finished 1st in the table(lost in the 2nd round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 2nd
Cruz Azul
Cruz Azul are the defending champions of the Clausura title. After an average Apertura they will be looking to bounce back in the Clausura. Login Roberto Alvarado will hurt but Cruz Azul still has enough talent to succeed. However, if they lose Orbelin Pineda or Jonathan Rodriguez they could be in big trouble. Young striker Santiago Giminez looks primed to have a big Clausura after scoring four goals in the Apertura.
Player to Watch: Santiago Giminez
2021 Apertura: Finished 8th in table(lost in the 1st round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 7th
Juarez
Tuca Ferretti’s Juarez will need to improve after a poor Apertura. Juarez was tied with Xolos for the worst goal differential in the Apertura. Dario Lezcano will look to continue his good form after scoring five goals in the Apertura.
Player to Watch: Dario Lezcano
2021 Apertura: Finished 16th in the table
2022 Clausura Perdiction: 15th
Leon
Leon has been very successful in the last few years and will look to continue that success into 2022. They were runners up in the Apertura this season, won the 2020/21 Apertura, and won the 2021 Leagues Cup. Angel Mena, Victor Davilla, Rodolfo Cota, and William Tesillo will all look to continue their spectacular form from the Apertura. Leon will likely be competitive once again this year.
Player to Watch: Victor Davilla
2021 Apertura: Finished 3rd in the table(lost in the final of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 5th
Mazatlan
Mazatlan will be looking for a Liguilla spot after just missing out in the Apertura. Camilo will likely be the main man for Mazatlan after scoring 8 goals in the Apertura. Goalkeeper Nicolas Vikonis will look to continue his form for the Apertura as he was tied with Rodolfo Cota for the most saves per match.
Player to Watch: Camilo
2021 Apertura: Finished 13th in the table
2022 Clausura Prediction: 12th
Necaxa
After just missing out on the liguilla Necaxa will look to make the top 12 in the Clausura. Necaxa has not had very much success in the last decade. Although they do not have many stars Necaxa has a very balanced squad. Midfielder Jonathan Gonzalez will be attempting to convince his parent club Rayados that he is good enough to play for them.
Player to watch: Jonathan Gonzalez
2021 Apertura: Finished 14th in the table
2022 Clausura Prediction: 16th
Pachuca
Pachuca had a poor Apertura, but they have enough talent in their squad to improve. They have a balanced team, but I don’t think they have the star power to make the liguilla. Erik Sanchez was one of Pachuca’s best players in the Apertura and could continue that form into 2022.
Player to Watch: Erik Sanchez
2021 Apertura: Finished 15th in the table
2022 Clausura Prediction: 13th
Puebla
Puebla finished 7th in the Apertura which was a good finish for them. Another top-half finish would make this a very successful season for Puebla. Cristian Tabo was Puebla’s top goalscorer in the Apertura and will attempt to do the same in the Clausura.
Player to Watch: Cristian Tabo
2021 Apertura: Finished 7th in the table(knocked out in the second round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 8th
Pumas
Pumas will want to remain in the liguilla after a successful Apertura in which they knocked out rivals Club America during liguilla. Juan DInenno has been a star in Liga Mx over the last two years and will no doubt be dangerous once again in 2022.
Player to Watch: Juan Dinenno
2021 Apertura: Finished 11th in the table(knocked out in the 3rd round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 11th
Queretaro
Queretaro had an awful Apertura finishing second bottom of the table. Their main problem was their lack of ability to score goals. Queretaro only scored eleven goals all season averaging around 0.65 goals per game. Uruguayan striker Jonathan dos Santos was their top goalscorer in the Apertura and will be their main hope to improve in the Clausura.
Player to Watch: Jonathan dos Santos
2021 Apertura: Finished 17th in the table
2022 Clausura Prediction: 17th
Rayados
Rayados have been one of the most successful clubs in Liga MX for many years now, and are one of the favorites to win the Clausura. They have a complete squad from top to bottom featuring the likes of Esteban Andrada, Hector Moreno, Cesar Montes, Maximilliano Meza, Mathias Kranevitter, Rogelio Funes Mori, and Duvan Vergara.
Player to Watch: Duvan Vergara
2021 Apertura: Finished 9th in the table(knocked out in the second round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 3rd
Santos Laguna
Although they have just lost Diego Valdes and might lose Carlos Acevedo Santos Laguna will be capable of challenging for the title. Manager Guillermo Almada has given Santos an exciting identity that has resulted in success. They reached the finals of the Clausura last season and have been competitive during the first half of this season. Star midfielder Fernando Gorriaran will look to lead Santos Laguna to Glory.
Player to Watch: Fernando Gorriaran
2021 Apertura: Finished 5th in the table(knocked out in the second round to the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 9th
Tigres
Tigres will be seeking their first Liga MX title since the 2018/19 Clausura this year. New signing Florian Thauvin has not quite settled in yet but could break out in the Clausura. They have also just signed young Mexican Sebastian Cordova and winger Jesus Angulo. Obviously, Andre-Pierre Gignac will be the main star of this Tigres team, but he has the supporting cast to have plenty of success.
Player to Watch: Florian Thauvin
2021 Apertura: Finished 4th in the table(knocked out in the 3rd round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 1st
Toluca
Toluca had a very successful Apertura and will be looking to continue their success going into the Clausura. Losing Rubans Sambueza will massively hurt Toluca’s chances of repeating their success in the Clausura. Alexis Pedro Canelo will need to have a very good Clausura if Toluca is going to be successful.
Player to Watch: Alexis Pedro Canelo
2021 Apertura: Finished 6th in the table(knocked out in the 1st round of the liguilla)
2022 Clausura Prediction: 10th
Xolos
Xolos had an awful Apertura finishing bottom of the table. However, they have more than enough talent to possibly challenge for a liguilla spot. If Mauro Monotas can regain his form then Xolos will be ready to take on anyone. Goalkeeper Jonothan Orozco is one of the best goalkeepers in Liga MX and will provide plenty of experience to the team.
Player to Watch: Mauro Monotas
2021 Apertura: Finished 18th in the table
2022 Clausura Prediction: 14th
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