The 2026-27 Liga MX run is underway, and Monterrey volition statesman their play by welcoming Santos Laguna to Estadio BBVA connected Sunday.
The hosts enjoyed a stronger run past term, finishing 5th successful the regular-season standings earlier reaching the semi-finals of the playoffs, portion Santos Laguna ended the run successful 11th place.
Match preview
Monterrey volition beryllium aiming to physique connected different accordant Liga MX run aft securing a top-five decorativeness for the 2nd successive season, ending the 2025-26 regular play successful 5th spot with 31 points from 17 matches, six down leaders Toluca.
Los Rayados were among the division's astir potent attacking sides aft scoring 33 goals, though antiaircraft frailties remained a concern, with their tally of 29 goals conceded the highest of immoderate squad successful the apical six.
They overcame Club America 3-2 connected aggregate successful the quarter-finals earlier bowing retired successful the semi-finals, wherever a 3-3 aggregate gully with Toluca saw the second advancement by virtuousness of their higher league seeding.
A caller epoch besides begins astatine Estadio BBVA, with erstwhile Guadalajara brag Matias Almeyda returning to Mexican shot aft ending his spell with Sevilla to instrumentality complaint of the club.
Monterrey person besides strengthened their squad during the summertime transportation window, recruiting striker Diego Rossi from Columbus Crew and Javier Casillas from Venados FC.
![]()
© Imago
Santos Laguna showed encouraging signs of advancement successful 2025-26 aft enduring a dismal 2024-25 campaign, climbing from the ft of the Liga MX array to decorativeness 11th with 20 points from 17 matches.
The Warriors narrowly missed retired connected a spot successful the play-in round, ending the regular play conscionable 1 constituent down Pumas UNAM and 2 adrift of Pachuca.
Their attacking struggles, however, remained evident, with Santos managing lone 22 league goals, portion they besides shipped 28 astatine the different extremity and kept conscionable 1 cleanable expanse passim the campaign.
The nine person opted for a caller commencement up of the caller play by appointing Portuguese manager Renato Paiva arsenic their caller manager.
Paiva arrives with plentifulness of acquisition from spells astatine the likes of Bahia and Toluca, though his assignment carries an constituent of hazard aft short-lived stints with Botafogo and Fortaleza past play ended successful dismissal.
Monterrey Liga MX form:
NA
Monterrey signifier (all competitions):
NA
Santos Laguna Liga MX form:
NA
Santos Laguna signifier (all competitions):
NA
Team News
![]()
© Imago / IMAGO / Straffon Images
Almeyda volition beryllium without defender Carlos Salcedo, who serves a suspension aft accumulating yellowish cards past season, but the Monterrey brag has nary different large enactment concerns heading into the opener.
Los Rayados besides enjoyed a coagulated build-up to the caller campaign, remaining unbeaten successful their 2 pre-season friendlies, including a 4-1 triumph implicit Cancun successful which Lucas Ocampos got connected the scoresheet.
The Argentine is expected to commencement successful a beforehand 3 alongside Uros Durdevic and Luca Orellano, though caller signing Diego Rossi volition beryllium pushing for his debut.
Santos Laguna won 2 and mislaid 1 of their 3 pre-season outings, and Paiva is expected to instrumentality with his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
Lucas Di Yorio should pb the line, with summertime accomplishment Diego Gonzalez apt to articulation Ezequiel Bullaude and Fran Villalba successful the attacking midfield positions.
Paiva has a afloat acceptable squad disposable for the play opener and could manus chap caller enlistee Franco Pardo an contiguous debut successful cardinal defence.
Monterrey imaginable starting lineup:
Cardenas; Aguirre, Guzman, Arteaga; Rodriguez, Ambriz, Torres; Orellano, Durdevic, Ocampos
Santos Laguna imaginable starting lineup:
Acevedo; Perez, Pardo, Orona, Abella; Gruezo, Mariscal; Gonzalez, Bullaude, Villalba; di Yorio
![]()
We say: Monterrey 2-0 Santos Laguna
The opening play of a caller play often brings added excitement and unpredictability, but Monterrey look good placed to statesman the run connected a winning enactment fixed their superior prime and awesome location grounds successful this fixture.
The hosts person won each of their past 3 location meetings with Santos Laguna, though they suffered a 3-0 decision against them connected their distant visit.
For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.
.png)
1 hour ago
10





Bengali (BD) ·
English (US) ·