Mexican football is back with a bang.
Liga MX Apertura 2025 got underway this weekend with all 18 teams registering their accounts to compete for the title.
The competition got underway at the Estadio Cuautéhmoc as Puebla played host to Atlas. As for the reigning champions, Toluca, they were back in action on Saturday night with a home fixture against Necaxa, who had a change of management in the summer with Fernando Gago returning to Mexican football.
In Hidalgo, Pachuca and Monterrey are fresh off a stint at the FIFA Club World Cup and faced each other, with both sides welcoming managerial debuts.
This is how the opening weekend of the Apertura played out:
Friday 11 July 2025
Puebla 3-2 Atlas
Puebla and Atlas kickstarted the new season, and it lived up to all expectations. A five-goal thriller that saw La Academia race into a 3-1 lead before Edgar Guerra pulled one back for the home side.
FC Juárez 1-1 Club América
Club América will be hoping to erase all memory of their Clausura final defeat to Toluca, but stumbled on the opening matchday when an 80th-minute strike from Rodolfo Pizarro, on his Los Bravos debut, rulling out Alex Zendejas' first-half opener.
Tijuana 1-0 Querétaro
There was a new face in the dugout for Los Xolos as Sebastién Abreu replaced Juan Carlos Osorio, and the Uruguayan will be happy with their opening weekend win. The only goal of the game came on half-time as Omar Mendoza netted into his own net to give the home side at the break.
Saturday 12 July 2025
Santos Laguna 3-0 Pumas
Pumas had an opening matchday to forget as they suffered a heavy defeat to the Clausura bottom side. Santos took the lead when Aldo Lopéz scored an audacious chip from 35 yards, after dispossessing Santiago Trigos. The lead was doubled in the second half when Ramiro Sordo pressured 17-year-old goalkeeper, Rodrigo Arteaga, forcing the ball into the back of the net to make it a miserable debut for the record-breaking Pumas man. To add salt to the wound, Cristian Dajome slotted home a third at the death to make it an emphatic win for Fernando Ortiz's men.
Toluca 3-1 Necaxa
The reigning champions were back on Saturday, and they secured an impressive home win against a Necaxa that reached the Clausura playoffs. The visitors took a surprise lead when Pavel Perez got Los Rayos in front, but the lead would only last for six minutes. Much speculation surrounds Marcel Ruiz, who is rumoured with a European move this summer, but the 24-year-old got the campaign back on track with a composed header, before an expert flick from the midfielder slotted Jesús Angulo through on goal to put Toluca in front.
Los Rojos Diablos secured all three points deep into the second half when Brazilian winger Helinho added his name to the scoresheet to ensure all three points on the opening day.
Cruz Azul 0-0 Mazatlán
Cruz Azul showed off their new Concacaf Champions Cup badges after lifting the trophy six weeks ago, but they dropped points against Mazatlán. Nicolas Larcómon was announced as the eventual successor to Martín Anselmi, and as expected, La Máquina dominated the game with 74% possession and 14 shots, to Mazatlán's seven, but they couldn't get past Daniel Guiterrez, who earned the man of the match award.
Sunday 13 July 2025
Pachuca 3-0 Monterrey
Pachuca and Monterrey represented Mexico at the FIFA Club World Cup, with Los Rayados having a much better time of things, reaching the round of 16. However, things took a complete turn on their return to league action as Jaime Lozano's side were ruthless. The game was deadlocked at half-time, but goals from debutant Jhonder Cadíz, Alexei Figeroa and Elías Montiel settled the game as the visitors were left stunned on their visit to Hidalgo.
León 0-1 San Luis
León was among the most improved teams in the Clausura, finishing the regular season in sixth place, while San Luis experienced a sharp decline, dropping from sixth to 15th. Following the summer departure of manager Doménec Torrent to Monterrey, Guille Abascal took charge for his Liga MX debut, and it was a memorable one, with new signing João Pedro scoring the decisive goal in the 91st minute.
Liga MX Apertura 2025 - Matchday One
Matchday one is in the history books, with Santos Laguna and Pachuca standing out with big home wins.
Cruz Azul and Club América will be disappointed with their stalled starts to the campaign, two sides that which have been consistently competing at the top of the table in recent years, whilst Antonio Mohamed and his men will be content with their start, putting three goals beyond Necaxa.
Seven new managers made their Liga MX debuts this weekend, with Jaime Lozano, Sebastién Abreu, and Guille Abascal being the happier of the bunch, but it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Which was your favorite game of the opening weekend? Let us know!