Weekly Top 25 CONCACAF Club Rankings

CONCACAF Club Rankings - Top 25 Clubs in North America and Latin America - Aug 21, 2012

Santos Laguna falls from their top spot for the first time since May 7th of this year.  Not only that, but there was a lot of movement in this weeks Top 25 rankings.  Liga MX (Mexico), finally reached the 5 match point for the season.  This is the point at which last season's performance no longer counts towards this season's ratings.  The Top 5 also saw the addition of a Costa Rican Primera club for the first time.  There will continue to be movement within the Top 25 for the next couple of weeks, until clubs settle into their regular form.

Also, this week, we have the second matchday of the Champions League Group stage:

Tuesday, 8/21
8PM - Santos Laguna vs. Aguila, Univision Deportes
10PM - Real Salt Lake vs. Tauro, Fox Soccer
10PM - Xelaju vs. Guadalajara, Galavision

Wednesday, 8/22
8PM - Caledonia AIA vs. Marathon, Univision Deportes 2
10PM - Alajuelense vs. Tigres, Galavision
10PM - FAS vs. Houston Dynamo, Fox Soccer Channel

Thursday, 8/23
8PM - Chorrillo vs. Municipal, Univision Deportes
10PM - LA Galaxy vs. Metapan, Galavision

Now, on to this week's rankings...

1.)  Toluca (Liga MX) - Toluca has unseated Santos Laguna for the top spot in this week's rankings.  They have started the Apertura 5-0-0.  This past week, Toluca defeated Pachuca 1-0 at home.  Edgar Benitez scored the winning goal in extra time.  Toluca will be facing Irapuato in Copa Mexico and will go on the road to face UANL (9th) this Saturday.   

2.)  Tijuana (Liga MX) - The Xolos defeated UANL 2-1 this past week to move into the 2nd spot of this week's rankings.  Tijuana was promoted to the top flight of Mexican soccer last year and have slowly worked their way up the rankings.  Tijuana will be facing Celaya in Copa Mexico (they are down 2-1 on aggregate right now) and will be going on the road to face America (7th) on Saturday.  For the US Men's National Team fans, Edgar Castillo started and played full time and Joe Corona started and played 69 minutes.  

3.)  Leon (Liga MX) -  Leon was promoted to Liga MX this season after winning the 2011/12 Liga de Ascenso.  Within 5 matches of the start of the Apertura, they have moved into the CONCACAF Top 3.  They are one of the hottest clubs in CONCACAF right now.  Leon drew Cruz Azul away 1-1 this past week.  Leon will be facing the recently relegated Estudiantes Tecos in Copa Mexico and will have a home match against Morelia (5th) this upcoming week.

4.)  Deportivo Saprissa  (Costa Rican Primera) -  Saprissa has not lost a match in the Torneo de Invierno.  They have gone 4-1-0 in their first 5 matches.  They currently have the best offense and defense in Costa Rica (+9 goal differential through 5 matches) and this has propelled them into the Top 5.  This past Thursday, they defeated Cartagines 2-0.  Up next, they face a Top 10 ranked Alajuelense (8th) at home.

5.)  Monarcas Morelia  (Liga MX) -  The Monarcas defeated Puebla 3-0 to hold on to the last spot in this week's Top 5 rankings.  Morelia will be facing the Dorados in Copa Mexico this week.  However, the big match will be when they go on the road to face Leon (3rd) on Friday.

Rank	Club	League
1	Toluca	Liga MX
2	Tijuana	Liga MX
3	Leon	Liga MX
4	Saprissa	Costa Rican Primera
5	Morelia	Liga MX
6	Cruz Azul	Liga MX
7	América	Liga MX
8	Alajuelense	Costa Rican Primera
9	UANL	Liga MX
10	Santos Laguna	Liga MX
11	UNAM	Liga MX
12	Atlas	Liga MX
13	San Jose Earthquakes	MLS
14	Sporting KC	MLS
15	Comunicaciones	Guatemalan Liga
16	New York Red Bulls	MLS
17	Chicago Fire	MLS
18	Tauro	Panamena Liga
19	Monterrey	Liga MX
20	Atlante	Liga MX
21	Municipal	Guatemalan Liga
22	Seattle Sounders FC	MLS
23	Houston Dynamo	MLS
24	Cartagines	Costa Rican Primera
25	Herediano	Costa Rican Primera

Next Five In:  Real Salt Lake (MLS), DC United (MLS), Isidro Metapan (El Salvador), Alianza (El Salvador), Vida (Honduras)

Biggest Movers:  Leon (+73, Mexico), Jaguares (-67, Mexico).  This large jumps are due to last season's ratings dropping off and this season's ratings being based solely on this season's results.