Leaders Cruz Azul, led by Argentine coach Nicolás Larcamón, will visit Santos Laguna, the worst team in the championship, tomorrow in the beginning of the ninth round of the Clausura 2026 Mexican soccer tournament.
After beating Monterrey 2-0 last Saturday, which they dominated and could have beaten by a greater margin, the Azules consolidated their position as the best team so far this year, with the best offense, 15 goals in eight matches.
Cruz Azul seeks to consolidate its leadership
This Tuesday, Cruz Azul will try to take advantage of Santos Laguna’s poor performance.
Santos has two draws, six defeats, two points, nine goals scored and 23 conceded, numbers that describe the team’s crisis.
With an offense led by Argentineans José Paradela and Agustín Palavecino, the light-blue team has imposed conditions so far.
They will go out this Tuesday to confirm their status as favorites to take three points and consolidate their leadership.
The ninth matchday, which will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, will see champions Toluca, second in the standings, at home to fourth-placed Pumas UNAM tomorrow.
The Diablos beat Chivas de Guadalajara 2-0 last Saturday.
They dropped them from first place and moved up to second to confirm themselves as one of the candidates for the title.
With Portuguese Paulinho leading their offense, Argentine coach Antonio Mohamed’s Toluca will be out to hurt Pumas, who are coming off a 1-1 draw with Xolos de Tijuana.
They need points to stay at the top of the table.
With Panamanian midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla and forwards Juninho, a Brazilian, Robert Álvarez, a Paraguayan, and Guillermo Martínez, a Mexican, Pumas shares with Cruz Azul and Tigres UANL the status of best attacking team.
They will try to confirm this against a Toluca team with the most secure defense of the tournament, with two goals conceded.
Rondón and Ángel Correa play key roles in key day
Tomorrow, Venezuelan striker Salomón Rondón’s Pachuca, fifth in the standings, will host twelfth-placed Necaxa, hoping to get back on track after a surprise 1-0 loss to Mazatlán last Friday.
In another duel on Tuesday, San Luis, led by Italian Joao Pedro, the leading scorer, will play against Mazatlán at its stadium.
Sixth-placed Tigres UANL, led by Argentine world champion Ángel Correa, are scheduled to visit 13th-placed Puebla on Wednesday.
Tijuana’s win over Atlas, Querétaro’s against Monterrey, who have just sacked Spanish coach Domenec Torrent, and Juárez FC’s win over eighth-placed América, after being beaten 1-4 by Tigres last Saturday.
Guadalajara-León has been postponed to March 18.
The celestes have set the tone so far
QuéOnnda.com
Matches of the ninth round of the Mexican soccer Clausura
Tuesday 03.03:
Pachuca-Necaxa, Santos Laguna-Cruz Azul, San Luis-Mazatán and Pumas UNAM-Toluca.
Wednesday: Monterrey-Querétaro, Puebla-Tigres UANL, Atlas-Tijuana and América-Juárez.
Pending: Guadalajara-León.
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
