Honestly, looking at the tabla de la liga mx during the first three weeks of the Clausura 2026 is a lot like checking your bank account the day after payday. Everything looks great, you feel like a king, but deep down you know the reality of the bills coming in February is going to change the picture entirely.
We are officially in the thick of it now. As of January 17, 2026, the Monterrey Rayados have basically decided they don't care about "early season rust." Their 5-1 demolition of Mazatlán today wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Anthony Martial, who everyone questioned when he landed in Mexico, is finally looking like the player Monterrey paid for, even if he did manage to miss a penalty before redeeming himself with a goal.
The Current State of the Table (January 17, 2026)
If you're checking the standings right now, Monterrey is sitting pretty at the top with 9 points from three games. They've played one more match than most, but their +9 goal difference is already creating a massive cushion.
Toluca and Chivas are breathing down their necks with 6 points each from two games. It's funny how things work—Toluca is the defending champion from the Apertura 2025, and they haven't skipped a beat. They look organized, clinical, and frankly, a bit terrifying for anyone visiting the Nemesio Díez.
On the flip side, we have the "Big Four" struggle bus. Club América is sitting in 16th place with a single point. One point. For a team with their budget and history, seeing them below Querétaro in the tabla de la liga mx is enough to make their fans lose sleep. They just can't seem to find the back of the net, and the pressure on the bench is already reaching a boiling point.
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Why the Tabla de la Liga MX is More Than Just Numbers
You've probably noticed that the Mexican league doesn't play like the Premier League or La Liga. We don't do the "most points at the end of the year wins" thing. That would be too simple.
Instead, the tabla de la liga mx is a race to get into the top six. If you finish 1st through 6th, you go straight to the Liguilla (the quarterfinals). If you finish 7th through 10th, you’re stuck in the "Play-In." It’s basically a high-stakes survival game where one bad night can ruin six months of hard work.
Take Pumas, for example. They just beat Tigres 1-0 in a match that was more of a wrestling match than a football game. That result bumped them up to 4th place. Are they the fourth-best team in Mexico? Probably not. But in this league, momentum is worth more than tactical genius.
The Mid-Table Chaos
Right now, the middle of the pack is a literal mess. We have six teams tied with 3 points.
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- Cruz Azul (looking solid but inconsistent)
- San Luis (the giant killers who just embarrassed América)
- Necaxa
- León
- Puebla
- Tigres
When the tabla de la liga mx is this compressed, every single goal matters. If Cruz Azul scores one more against Atlas, they jump three spots. If Tigres concedes a late header, they drop toward the bottom. It’s chaotic, and honestly, that’s why we love it.
The Relegation Ghost (The Cociente)
Even though there’s no "real" relegation right now, the teams at the bottom of the percentage table (the Cociente) are still sweating. They have to pay massive fines if they finish in the bottom three spots over a three-year period.
Mazatlán and Santos Laguna are currently the ones looking over their shoulders. Mazatlán’s loss today puts them at the absolute bottom of the Clausura table with zero points and a depressing -8 goal difference. It’s early, sure, but those ghosts start haunting you quickly when you're conceding five goals at home.
Surprises and Disappointments
The biggest shocker has to be Atlético San Luis. Nobody expected them to go into the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes and walk away with a 2-0 win over América. It wasn't a fluke, either. They defended like their lives depended on it and hit on the counter-attack with clinical precision.
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Then you have Pachuca. They’re usually the "academy of Mexico," but they’re hovering in 13th. They have the talent, but the consistency isn't there yet.
Actionable Insights for Following the Table
If you're trying to make sense of the tabla de la liga mx this season, stop looking at the total points for a second.
- Watch the "Away" Performance: In Mexico, winning at home is expected. The teams that actually climb the table are the ones like Tijuana or Monterrey that can steal points on the road.
- Focus on the Top 6: Don't worry about being #1. Historically, the team that finishes first in the regular season often suffers from the "Superlíder Curse" and gets knocked out early in the playoffs. Finishing 3rd or 4th is actually the sweet spot.
- The February Crunch: Keep an eye on the schedule. Next month, the Concacaf Champions Cup starts for some of these teams. That’s when the big squads like Tigres and Monterrey start rotating players, and the smaller teams start climbing the table.
The tabla de la liga mx will look completely different by Matchday 10. For now, enjoy the chaos of Monterrey's dominance and América's crisis.
To keep track of the movement, prioritize looking at the "Goal Difference" column. In a league where points are often tied, the ability to blow out opponents (like Monterrey just did) is the ultimate tiebreaker that determines who hosts the second leg of a playoff game at home. Monitor the next three Matchdays closely; they historically dictate which 10 teams will actually fight for the trophy come May.