CF Rayados de Monterrey

vs

Pachuca CF

Preview

Monterrey (home)

• Monterrey are winless in their last five competitive games (D3, L2).
• The Estadio BBVA is the setting for a must-win matchup for hosts Monterrey, who must beat Pachuca to keep their playoff dreams alive on Sunday, while the visitors can cement a top-four finish with a victory in the Clausura 2026 clashup.
• Nicolás Sánchez took over the reins at Monterrey in March 2026 amid a turbulent season.
• The Argentine has tried to blend creative midfield play with defensive solidity, but injuries and inconsistent performances have hindered his efforts.

Pachuca (away)

• Pachuca are unbeaten in their last five matches, with three wins and two draws, and are in red-hot form, following up a 4 - 2 win over fellow playoff contenders Santos in the week with an excellent hat-trick from Víctor Alfonso Guzmán.
• Esteban Solari has masterminded Pachuca’s transformation into one of the Liga MX’s most feared sides with his pressing style, which has worked beautifully in recent weeks.
• The Tuzos sit third in the Clausura 2026 standings with 28 points from 14 rounds, confirming them as direct Liguilla contenders, while Monterrey languish in 13th place with 15 points.

Head-to-Head

Key Players

• Monterrey:
  • Jesús ‘Tecatito’ Corona and Sergio Canales have the ball on a string most of the time, but they have been unable to deliver enough quality to make a lasting impact.
  • Lucas Ocampos remains Monterrey’s most reliable player and will be expected to make an impact again on Sunday.
• Pachuca:
  • Víctor Alfonso Guzmán - the youngster has been Pachuca’s best player this season.
  • Robert Kenedy and Salomón Rondón have scored plenty of goals, but have also been happy to share the limelight when necessary, which is a big reason why Pachuca are third in the table.

Prediction