Matchday 5 of the Liga MX Apertura took place this weekend, welcoming mouth-watering ties between title contenders as we saw some of the league's darkhorses go head-to-head.
The game of the week was at the Estadio Universitario, Monterrey, as Club América were in town to face Tigres, whilst defending champions Toluca played host to a Pumas side determined to reignite their hopes of a playoff berth.
Pachuca came into the matchday as the only side with a 100% record, but that would be on the line as Los Tuzos hosted Tijuana, whilst Necaxa and León met in Aguascalientes in an enticing matchup between two sides who overperformed during the Clausura.
This is all that happened in Liga MX Apertura 2025, Matchday 5.
Friday 15th August 2025
Puebla 0-2 San Luis
Puebla's Leagues Cup exploits failed to translate in the Liga MX as La Franja faced a fourth defeat in five games, resulting in the sacking of manager Pablo Guede.
San Luis were gifted a golden opportunity to take the lead when Jesús Rodríguez handed the visitors a penalty late in the first half for João Pedro to calmly dispatch before grabbing his second of the game halfway through the second half. It's now four goals in five games for the Brazilian, who is loving life since joining San Luis from Hull City in the summer.
Necaxa 0-1 León
A cool finish from Ismael Díaz early in the first half was the difference between these two as León ended a barren run of five games without a win. The result moves Eduardo Berizzo's side into the playoff positions, leapfrogging their weekend hosts.
Saturday 16th August 2025
Chivas 1-2 Juárez
It's another weekend to forget for Chivas after recording a third league defeat in four games. Juárez netted twice, either side of halftime, as a late goal from Santiago Sandoval provided a late consolation for Gabriel Milito's men, who will be desperate to turn the tide next week when they travel to Tijuana.
Cruz Azul 3-2 Santos Laguna
Cruz Azul can breathe a sigh of relief after netting a late winner to beat a Santos Laguna team which played with 10 men for almost an hour of this encounter. Ramiro Sordo was handed a straight red card in the first half whilst La Máquina were ahead, but in a shocking twist, Cristian Dajome managed to bring the sides level before an 82nd-minute winner from Gabriel Fernández moved Cruz Azul into third in the table.
Pachuca 0-2 Tijuana
Pachuca lost their 100% record with an underwhelming display against Tijuana. 16-year-old Gilberto Mora opened the scoring for the visitors with a clever header before Kevin Castañeda doubled the lead for Los Xolos deep into the first half.
Los Tuzos were handed a lifeline when Domingo Blanco saw red on the hour mark for Tijuana, but the Baja California side managed to hold on for a valuable three points against the league leaders.
Tigres 1-3 Club América
All Liga MX fans had their eyes on this meeting, with Tigres putting seven past Puebla last week, facing an unbeaten Club América side who were without their new star signing, Allan Saint-Maximin, who gears up for his debut in the coming weeks.
The game's first twist took just four minutes as Juan Brunetta had time in the box to open the scoring, but the sides headed into the break level as Erick Sánchez silenced the Estadio Universitario.
Sánchez would be on hand again, striking from range to beat a helpless Nahuel Gúzman before fourtunes turned against the Argentine who was unable to direct an América cross away from goal to gift the visitors with a third.
¡Noche soñada!
— Club América (@ClubAmerica) August 17, 2025
Así firmó Érick Sánchez su doblete de esta noche. 🦅💛💙#GrandesDeCorazón pic.twitter.com/Z9J2FVPHie
Toluca 1-1 Pumas
Toluca remain favourites to lift the Liga MX Apertura and were heavily tipped to beat a Pumas side which has struggled to find its form at the start of the season.
Despite all the pre-game predictions, it was the visitors who defied all expectations when Jorge Ruvalcaba put the side from the capital in-front. Toluca came knocking but needed to wait until the 67th minute to find a response when Jesús Angulo was on hand to score his second goal of the season, leaving both sides unsatisfied with a point.
Sunday 17th August 2025
Querétaro 3-3 Atlas
Atlas fans will feel sickened having witnessed their side concede two goals deep into added time of the second half against a Querétaro which sits rock bottom of the Apertura table.
With 13 minutes left on the clock, Atlas doubled their lead and seemed destined to walk away with maximum points, but a 95th-minute goal from Rodrigo Bogarin gave the home fans a glimmer of hope before the unimaginable happened three minutes later as Lucas Rodríguez stabbed home a stunning equaliser.
Monterrey 3-2 Mazatlán
Monterrey came from behind to defeat Mazatlán, but only needed three minutes to respond after José Esquivel handed the Sinaloa side the lead. Victor Gúzman first came up with the opener before a first-half brace from Lucas Ocampos gave the hosts a healthy lead.
Whilst Los Rayados looked comfortable in front, their nerve was tested in the second half as Omar Moreno scored a second for the guests but they were unable to find the all-important third goal.
Which was your favourite game of the weekend? Let us know!