With 11 rounds of matches gone in the Apertura regular season, the Liga MX table is shaping up. Storylines abound surrounding the playoff race, and the league standings tells you roughly how each side is doing as of now.
What they fail to give you is the complete picture, getting under the skin of what has gone on in the Mexican league so far this season. In an effort to dig a little deeper, here's a look at 10 key questions from the Liga MX Apertura using ESPN's TruMedia statistics to provide the answers.
1. Which team has the most defined playing style?
The fact that Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti has been at Tigres for over six years comes over clearly in the team's play and the stats bear that out. Tigres have had more touches on the ball than any other side so far this Apertura, have the highest pass completion rate (83.9 percent), the second highest raw number of passes completed (behind Morelia) and are second only to Chivas in average amount of possession per game (55.6 percent). It paints a picture of control, helping to explain why Tigres are the only undefeated side this Apertura.
2. Why is Monterrey -- a preseason favorite for the title -- doing so poorly?
Los Rayados have invested heavily in their playing staff, but are down in 11th place in the Liga MX table. Hope for Antonio Mohamed's struggling and under-pressure side comes with the fact that Monterrey has actually created more chances (138) than any other team in Liga MX. Edwin Cardona (zero goals from 25 shots), Yimi Chara (one goal from 19 shots) and even Dorlan Pabon (three goals from 37 shots) need to find their shooting boots if Monterrey is to start moving up the table.
3. How does Liga MX's goal-to-game ratio compare to other leagues, considering Mexico's first division is widely known for its attacking football?
The average goals-per-game ratio for the Liga MX Apertura (2.65) is actually lower than in the current Premier League (2.93), La Liga (2.9) and MLS (2.83) seasons.
4. What about possession stats?
When it comes to average possession per game, there is no Barcelona (67.1 percent in La Liga this season) or Manchester City (63.2 percent in the Premier League). Chivas lead the way (59.8 percent), with Tigres way behind in second (55.6 percent). The lack of domination -- the team with the least possession (Queretaro) has 42.7 percent -- could hint at a league in which most teams insist on possession, but there is also an argument that the stats simply highlight the narrower difference in quality between the best and worst teams compared to the English and Spanish top divisions.
The average pass length is also surprising. In Liga MX, the average pass (20 yards) is longer than in MLS (19.7) and the Premier League (19.4), two leagues in which the popular perception is that teams play a more direct brand of football.
5. Dayro Moreno tops the scoring charts with nine goals, but which striker is the most clinical in the league?
Everything (shots, shots on target, minutes played) considered, Morelia's Raul Ruidiaz is hitting above his expected goal tally. The 26-year-old Peruvian has netted eight goals this Apertura, but his expected number of goals per the stats is just 3.63.
6. What do the stats show about Pumas and debutant coach Francisco "Paco" Palencia?
Tigres may have the best-defined playing identity, but Pumas aren't too far away, even if the Mexico City side is playing a different type of football. Palencia's side has the second-longest average pass (22.4 yards) and the second highest percentage (23.2 percent) of passes that can be considered "long balls."
It's not exactly long ball football, but Palencia is starting to define his managerial career and this Pumas side is one that isn't afraid to move the ball upfront quickly.
7. Dirtiest team?
In terms of red cards, Veracruz is the runaway leader with five in 11 games. Liga MX's first-placed side Club Tijuana has the most yellows (32). But it is recently promoted Necaxa that has committed the most fouls (205), 27 more than second-placed Queretaro (178). The fact that Necaxa is midtable for both yellow and red cards (one in 11 games) suggests Alfonso Sosa's team may well be the shrewdest side in Liga MX and it is certainly difficult to defeat, having lost only twice this Apertura.
The most fouled team is reigning champion Pachuca.
8. How has Leon changed since Javier Torrente took over on Aug. 30?
The major difference from Luis Fernando Tena's stint in charge earlier this Apertura is that average possession percentage per game dropped from 47 percent to 39.1 percent, although that may well have a lot to do with tough away trips at altitude to Club America and Toluca.
The percentage of long balls also went up from 22.7 percent to 26.5 percent, while the pass completion percentage dropped from 73.2 percent to 70.3 percent. The more direct, vertical style seems to be working, with Torrente -- formerly part of Marcelo Bielsa's coaching staff at Marseille -- having picked up two wins and two draws from his opening games at Leon, only conceding two goals in the process.
9. Does Rafa Marquez still retain influence on Atlas' playing style?
Atlas' play tends to flow through Marquez, who has had more touches on the ball than any other player in Liga MX at 817, considerably more than Chivas' Jesus Sanchez and Morelia's Juan Pablo Rodriguez (both on 745). That may start to change now that he is set to fill in at center-back for the next few weeks, rather than his central midfield position, due to injuries to Leiton Jimenez and Jaine Barreiro.
10. Which team is the best in the air?
Club America has the highest percentage of aerial duels won (58.9 percent), with Queretaro (57.8 percent) just behind. However, in raw numbers, Atlas have won more aerial duels (134) than any other team in the league, with Queretaro again in second (130).