Pachuca
- The Clausura 2026 mid-table is crowded this season with Pachuca CF sitting 5th (14 points from 7 - 8 matches) and Necaxa 10th (9 points from 7 matches) heading into their crucial 3-point showdown at Estadio Hidalgo.
- Pachuca boss Esteban Solari has implemented an energetic and organised style of play since his appointment in November 2025 which centres around pressing hard and playing on the transition.
- Solari’s 4-2-3-1 set-up usually features two players in the double pivot, but there is enough flexibility to accommodate Kenedy’s runs from the wing or Salomón Rondón’s hold-up play when needed.
- Salomón Rondón leads Pachuca’s line with recent goals, but Oussama Idrissi is a constant threat from the left and Kenedy has given them pace and penetration out wide.
Necaxa
- Necaxa are a high-possession, high-intensity team who like to press from the front when out of possession, but they are also susceptible to counter-attacks and defensive lapses.
- Franco Rossano and Agustín Oliveros are the defensive backbone of Necaxa, while midfielders Kevin Rosero and Agustín Palavecino drive the transitions and create the chances.
- But the forward options of Julián Carranza and Tomás Badaloni are the biggest threat to the Pachuca goal.
Head-to-Head
- This fixture averages a high number of goals and has seen 42 meetings (W19, D14, L9).
- Pachuca have had the better of this fixture in recent times (W4, L1) and the last two meetings in Liga MX have been goal-fests, with 6-2 and 5-3 results going the way of the hosts.
Pachuca
- Salomón Rondón
- Oussama Idrissi
- Kenedy
Necaxa
- Franco Rossano
- Agustín Oliveros
- Agustín Palavecino
- Julián Carranza
- Tomás Badaloni
Betting Insights
- Pachuca are the favourites to win this game at 1.9, while the odds on the draw (3.5) and Necaxa (3.85) are much less appealing.
- Necaxa have no reported absences for this trip, so Varini can rotate his attacking options and stick with his preferred tactical system.
- Pachuca are without Alan Mozo through injury, which could leave them a little exposed on the right-side of the defence, but Solari’s men have more of a balance and have looked solid in the last few games and in good form against Juárez last time out (2-0).
Prediction
Pachuca are likely to edge it given the superiority of the home team, the form guide and the overall head-to-head record, but the visitors could grab a point.
