Cruz Azul Leads Liga MX Standings Ahead of Final Matchday

Cruz Azul maintains its position at the summit of the Liga MX standings as the Apertura 2026 tournament enters its decisive final phase. La Máquina occupies the leading spot in the general classification, benefiting from recent results across the league and holding a strong position heading into the final round of the regular season.

The fight for the top of the table intensified recently following the outcomes of Matchday 16. Cruz Azul secured a 3-2 victory against Tigres, which significantly bolstered their position in the upper echelon of the league table.

Meanwhile, Club Deportivo Guadalajara had a prime opportunity to claim the overall leadership during their visit to Estadio Nou Camp to face Club León. Guided by manager Gabriel Milito, the Guadalajara squad held a provisional lead after Ricardo Marín broke the deadlock in the 69th minute by capitalizing on a header following a setup from Daniel Aguirre and Luis Romo.

Chivas maintained the virtual top spot for a significant portion of the second half, especially after León was reduced to ten players following a direct red card shown to José Iván Rodríguez in the 53rd minute for denying a clear scoring opportunity. However, despite the numerical advantage and a strong defensive record that features only 14 goals conceded all season, the visitors were unable to hold onto their lead.

In the closing minutes of the encounter, León applied pressure despite playing a man down. Defender Paúl Bellón rescued a draw for the Esmeraldas in the 87th minute by connecting with a cross from Jhohan Romaña and slotting a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, sealing a 1-1 final score.

The dropped points for Guadalajara left them in third place with 30 points, trailing both Cruz Azul and América in the standings. Although Chivas preserved their status as the only undefeated team away from home in the tournament, the stalemate prevented them from overtaking La Máquina.

Looking ahead, the regular season will culminate in a high-stakes showdown. Cruz Azul is scheduled to face Chivas on Sunday, November 22, at Estadio Akron, with the match set to begin at 5:07 PM central time. The encounter will serve as the ultimate test for both clubs as they battle directly for the top spot in the closing stage of the Apertura 2026 championship.