Liga MX recap: Andre-Pierre Gignac shows once again why he is the league’s best player

Andre-Pierre Gignac reminded just how good he is with a golazo and Cruz Azul climbed into first place. Those stories and more in our recap of what you need to know from Liga MX 2020 Clausura Week 8.

If you didn’t watch Tigres vs. Pumas over the weekend, then you missed what will go down as one of the best goals not just in Liga MX, but in all of world soccer this year.

After scoring twice for Tigres in the match, French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac absolutely stunned the home crowd in Monterrey with a sublime bicycle kick in the 59th minute that perfectly lofted the ball into the back of the net.

The goal not only secured a hat-trick for the Tigres star, but also a dominant 3-0 win over a Pumas side that had (so far) been exceeding expectations this season.

https://twitter.com/TUDNUSA/status/1233972470136426497

The mesmerizing strike also shut down any worries about the veteran slowing down in 2020.

After turning 34 in December, it was fair for many Liga MX fans to wonder if this would be the season in which he begins to show signs of his age. In recent months, his gradual decrease in pace also seemed to hint at an upcoming regression for Gignac.

Turns out it couldn’t have been further from the truth. With seven goals in seven league games in the 2020 Clausura, the striker has been nothing short of brilliant for a Tigres side that will continue to rely on more of his magical moments.

Nobody in Liga MX is more talented — or has scored more in 2020 — than Gignac. With an immense amount of physical strength and an eye for well-placed goals, the Frenchmen will continue to steal headlines in Mexico and beyond as Tigres chase their fifth league title with Gignac since his arrival in 2015.

Other big storylines from Liga MX Week 8

The championship hangover is real for Monterrey

After Monterrey desperately launched 25 shots on Friday in a 2-0 away loss to Toluca, the current title-holders have now gone eight consecutive league matches without a win. Sitting dead last in the league table, Los Rayados are, by far, the biggest disappointment in the first two months of the Clausura tournament.

When will manager Antonio “Turco” Mohamed rescue his team from this crisis? Although he does have recent experience with salvaging the club — he stepped in last season and helped carry them to the 2019 Apertura title — Mohamed has struggled severely in 2020 with righting the Monterrey ship.

Cruz Azul move to first place after thrilling 4-2 shootout with Morelia

Led by two goals from Jonathan Rodriguez, Cruz Azul came out on top against Morelia last Friday in an eye-catching 4-2 away win. Thanks to their three points and a higher goal differential, the Mexico City club has now moved into first place for the first time this season.

This is good news for the team that has traditionally been associated with bad luck and catastrophic failures. There is even a slang verb, cruzazulear, which is based on Cruz Azul’s name and used by Mexican soccer fans to describe last second defeats or unlucky results.

Will Cruz Azul maintain this momentum and finally clinch their first league title since 1997? Or, is another cruzazuleada lurking around the corner?

Necaxa trample 9-man Club America

Club America has a red card problem. Saturday’s 3-0 loss at home against Necaxa marked the fifth time since December that the Mexico City giants have earned a red.

When two of those five were shown over the weekend, there was no hope left for Las Aguilas. With just nine players on the field by the 55th minute, Club America struggled with holding back a Necaxa roster that capitalized on their two-goal and two-man advantage by scoring a third in the 86th minute.

All that said, the losers still hold onto an advantage of their own in the league table. While Las Aguilas sit in second place, Necaxa are still five points behind in 10th.

Other Liga MX results from Week 8

San Luis 0-3 Juarez

Don’t overlook Juarez. The border-town team has been underrated for most of the season and has the attacking capabilities to become a dark horse in the playoffs.

Club Tijuana 0-1 Puebla

Early season problems have persisted for new Xolos manager Gustavo Quinteros and he might soon be on the hot seat after earning just one win in his first eight games.

Pachuca 1-1 Queretaro

Ariel Nahuelpan’s 91st minute assist for Clifford Aboagye helped clinch a vital away point for Queretaro. With five goals and one assist so far this season, Nahuelpan is another player to keep a close eye on.

Chivas 2-0 Leon

Thanks to goals from Jose Juan Macias and Fernando Beltran, Chivas are back into the top eight. As for Leon, it was a depressing week for the squad that was also recently knocked out of the CONCACAF Champions League by MLS side LAFC.

Santos Laguna 1-0 Atlas

Santos are quickly gaining some traction. With three wins and two draws in their last five games, Los Guerreros are once again looking like one of the more impressive teams in the league.