This past weekend, the twelfth round of the Clausura 2026 tournament in the Panamanian Football League was played. This round also marked the start of the second round of cross-conference matches, which directly impacted the standings. This return brought some movements—some slight, others more marked—to the Power Rankings, but, given what happened on the fields, few positions should surprise anyone who followed the action. Plaza Amador continues its championship run. Its victory in the National Classic extended its unbeaten streak to nine matches. If this level is maintained, a third championship title feels closer than ever. Alianza FC remains one of the tournament's most consistent teams, with seven matches without a loss. The draw against Umecit prevented it from keeping pace with the leader, but it doesn't change its status as a contender. Árabe Unido has moved into the upper half of the table by winning four consecutive matches. The Colón team is in full form and is fully immersed in the fight to qualify. Umecit is one of the most solid teams at the moment. The return to conference matches came at a good time for CAI. The draw against CAI allows it to remain the sole leader of the West. If it maintains the pace, it has everything it needs to qualify directly for the semifinals. San Francisco is here for two reasons: it has more points than its direct pursuers and has won its last two matches. The victory over Veraguas could mark a turning point in its campaign. Tauro FC dropped one position after falling in the National Classic to Plaza Amador. The defeat was close, but the victory of Árabe Unido and the point accumulation influenced the movement. Veraguas United suffered its second consecutive defeat after losing to San Francisco. Although it remains in the playoff zone, the memory of the disaster from the previous tournament is still present and forces it to be on alert. The great revelation of the tournament remains firm. Middle quartet: Unión Coclé – West, 16 points (Pos. 9). The draw against Unión Coclé ended its losing streak. However, it now sums seven matches without a win, which is starting to be a concern. If it doesn't rebound, it could start to compromise its permanence. Club Deportivo Universitario – West, 11 points (Pos. 10). Last week, I dared to place Herrera FC above Club Deportivo Universitario, given that its performance against East teams had been slightly superior. This week, however, the loss to Universitario (2-0) returns it to the bottom of the rankings. Club Atlético Independiente – West, 15 points (Pos. 8). The team has shown solidity and should react. Even so, the team has shown solidity and should react. San Francisco FC – West, 13 points (Pos. 7). With the loss to San Francisco, Veraguas United adds two consecutive falls. Although it is still in the playoff zone, the memory of the debacle from the previous tournament is latent and forces it to be on alert. Herrera FC - West, 7 points (Pos. 11). It not only debuted a new coach, the iconic Julio César Dely Valdés, but it also exploded the club's internal conflict between Gabriel “Gavilán” Gómez and Armando Cooper. The conflict was reflected on the field with a narrow defeat to Árabe Unido. Bottom quartet: Sporting San Miguelito – East, 14 points (Pos. 12). Sporting San Miguelito had a complicated week. If they manage to gain momentum, they could climb both in the ranking and in the table. Being the two teams with the lowest performance in the tournament, it's not enough for them to rise further. They are now four matches without a win. There is little left. We are only four matchdays away from the end of the regular phase, and this Clausura 2026 no longer allows for error. The East sets the pace, the West tries to resist... and every point starts to weigh like a final.
