Liga MX Review: Monterrey win the Clásico Regio

Friday 18th October 2024

Atlas 0 vs 0 Mazatlán
Querérato 0-1 Toluca
Necaxa 1-2 Tijuana
Puebla 1-2 Cruz Azul

The first game back after the international break was in Guadalajara as Atlas and Mazatlán played out a goalless bore draw. A result that leaves the home side with one win from their last five games whilst the Sinaloa side collected a fourth draw in as many games, sitting eight points adrift of the playoff places.

Los Gallos had a recent upturn of form before the break but they suffered a narrow loss with the visit of title contenders Toluca. The only goal of the game came through Paulinho late into the first half with the Portuguese forward netting his eighth goal in 12 appearances for Los Rojos Diablos.

Tijuana picked up from where they left off with another win. Two penalties wetanre awarded six minutes apart to set the game up nicely but the winner came before half time as Kevin Castaneda scored his second in his last three games as Los Xolos climbed to sixth place.

The night's final game was at the Estadio Cuauhétmoc as Puebla suffered a fifth straight defeat to league leaders Cruz Azul. Jorge Sánchez missed from the penalty spot before Giorgious Giakoumakis opened the account for La Máquina, but Puebla found enough time to respond before the half-time interval. With the game hanging in the balance, Azul scored once more to take the lead through Rodolfo Rotondi, who continued his goal-scoring form from before the international break.

Saturday 19th October 2024

Pachuca 0-2 Chivas
Club América 3-0 Santos Laguna
Juárez 2-3 León
Monterrey 4-2 Tigres

Despite all of the off-field drama with manager Fernando Gago leaving the club for his boyhood Boca Juniors, Chivas returned to winning ways after a derby-day defeat to Atlas before the break. A comfortable win was sealed in the first half as Mexican international Roberto Alvarado and Gilberto Sepulveda scored the goals to see Los Rojiblancos race into a lead which Pachuca was unable to come back from. The win reaffirms Chivas' playoff hopes as they jump above their city rivals into eighth.

From one half of el Clásico Nacional to the other, Las Águilas dispatched a 10-men Santos but left it late to do so. Ismael Govea was handed a straight red on the hour mark but André Jardine's side needed to wait until the 77th minute when Henry Martín scored the opening goal of the game. Having broken the deadlock, Illian Hernández doubled the lead six minutes later before Hugo Rodríguez netted into his own net to hand América a much-needed three points.

Juárez and León remain amongst the pack at the foot of the table, but a crucial win for León keeps their hopes alive of avoiding an embarrassing end to the campaign. This five-goal thriller saw the advantage swing in opposing favours as León took an early lead through Diego Hernández, but goals from Oscar Estupinan and José Garcia saw Los Bravos take the lead. Stiven Mendoza added to his goal against América before the break to give León a lifeline before they went on to steal all three points in the 97th minute due to Mauricio Isais, who came off the bench to score his first-ever goal for the club after joining from Toluca.

Then it was time for the biggest game of the weekend, Monterrey vs Tigres. The battle of the north as 4th hosted 3rd. With the city divided, Los Rayados jumped into a shocking 3-0 lead with 19-year-old Iker Fimbres scoring his first-ever goal for the club before the experienced Sergio Canales and new summer signing Lucas Ocampos gave the side an emphatic lead. Before the halftime whistle, Tigres were revived with goals from Guido Pizarro and André-Pierre Gignac, leaving fans stunned going into the break. The second half could not live up to the excitement of the first, with Tigres chasing a shock equaliser, all hopes were squashed when Fimbres scored his second of the game marking a memorable debut derby day for the young midfielder. As all three points stayed at the Estadio BBVA, they jumped up to 24 points, level with Tigres, but only behind on goal difference.

Sunday 20th October 2024

Pumas 3-0 San Luís

The final game of the weekend was at the Estadio Universitario between two teams who have quietly gone about their busy. Both Pumas and San Luís were closing the gap to the top four teams and now find themselves within a point of the two Monterrey clubs. However, this weekend, it was Pumas who were able to have the last laugh with an impressive win over San Luís. A brace from César Huerta before Guillermo Martínez added a third means that Pumas are unbeaten across their last five matches.

Next weekend

Coming up, it is another major derby as Pumas and Cruz Azul go head-to-head at the Universitario whilst Tigres aim to bounce back with the visit of Pachuca all before Club América welcomes Martin Demichelis' Monterrey to the capital.

Who impressed you the most this weekend? Let us know!