The FIFA women’s international break is over which means that Liga Femenil BBVA is back! The league is now heading into its final stretch as matchweek 11 kicks off today and so much is still at stake. Let’s take a look at how everything has been shaking up so far and what’s to come!
Here’s are the standings so far:
Group A
- Monterrey
- Tigres
- Toluca
- Juárez
- Santos
- Cruz Azul
- León
- Atlante
- Querétaro
Group B
- América
- Chivas
- Atlético San Luis
- Pumas
- Atlas
- Pachuca
- Tijuana
- Puebla
- Necaxa
For the most part, the group standings are not a big surprise. The typical ‘grandes/big’ teams are still at the top. However, there are some surprises so let’s break down each
group.
Group A
Monterrey and Tigres in the top two positions of the group is not surprising as most predicted this, it was just a toss up on who would be in first place. Toluca in third place is a bit of a shocker because of how they have been playing. Let’s not forget that the front office parted ways with head coach Alberto Toril after only 10 weeks in charge despite the results. It’s not just about getting the results but of how they achieve them. With Toril in charge the team lacked a game plan and players looked lost. The results just weren’t enough for the front office who took action immediately, unlike other teams (*cough* Chivas *cough*). Santos, currently in fifth place, caught everyone off guard. Historically, Santos is a bottom of the table team but this new group format has allowed them to blossom and they are close to making a return to the liguilla. León, Atlante and Querétaro at the bottom of the group is not surprising, especially Atlante as they are a new team who also parted ways with their head coach for his behavior towards the players. Cruz Azul in sixth place was a bit of a shock because for a while they were doing so well. After they hired a sporting director for the women’s side it looked as if things were moving forward. However those days seem to be long gone and the old Cruz Azul has made their way back. Azul still has a chance to make the postseason but they will need to be perfect in their remaining matches.
Group B
Just like the top two in Group A, the top two in this group is not a surprise as América and Chivas are in first and second place. While Chivas has cemented second place there is a big difference between these two teams. The Aguilas have built a super squad while Chivas has elite players on their roster but have barely squeezed by in almost every game they have played. It’s actually sad to see how management has allowed this team to fall. Chivas is supposed to be a ‘grande/big’ team but it has been a while since they have been just that. San Luis in third place is a pleasant surprise as they are usually a middle of the pack team but it’s great to see a team defeat the odds and be so close to making the liguilla for the first time in years. Pumas and Atlas, fourth and fifth respectively, are in their usual spots and Atlas will need to win all of their remaining games and hope that Pumas lose theirs if they want to make a return to the postseason. Pachuca in sixth place has people surprised but it shouldn’t. Since they last won the league, the team has gone downhill and it looks like the front office has finally realized it as they also parted ways with their head coach. Now, the Tuzas will need to be perfect in the last stretch of the season if they want a shot at a spot in the liguilla. Tijuana near the bottom of the table is sad because for a while they were a team that was shocking everyone with how they were winning games. Honestly, there’s a reason why fans, affectionately, call them a ‘chaotic’ team because they truly do deliver with that term. Then there’s Puebla and Necaxa in last place and while it is not shocking it is sad. It’s sad that those two team owners don’t care at all about the women’s team and if it was up to them they would probably cancel the women’s team if not for it being a requirement from the Mexican federation. At least Puebla has won a game while Necaxa has lost all 10 of their games so far and was even defeated 10-0 just last month. It really is sad to see how the clubs at the bottom of the table are treated versus the top.
There’s only four games left before the postseason starts as every single team has 15 points up for grabs. Even one point can make the difference between making the liguilla and not. Don’t count anyone out just yet or better yet, don’t think you know how the season will end. Mathematically there are teams who have already been eliminated but they can still cause major chaos for teams who are in need of wins to make the postseason. There are still some big matches coming up, specifically the Clasico de Mexico to wrap up the regular season, so hold on tight Mexico fans as the best is yet to come!
