Liga MX Clausura - 7

Cruz Azul 2 - 1 FT Guadalajara Chivas

Estadio Azteca

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
63
FT
Sun, Feb 22
Español
Cruz Azul
2-1
Guadalajara Chivas
⚡ Intensity 65
⚖️ Balance 56
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 0
Late drama reshapes the title race.

Azteca Drama: La Máquina Derails Chivas at the Summit

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 63/100. A defining top-of-the-table collision delivered late theatrics, completely resetting the hierarchy at the summit of Liga MX.

The Pragmatic Masterclass

The iconic Estadio Azteca provided a spectacular canvas for a match where the Stakes could not have been higher. First-placed Guadalajara Chivas arrived with real intent, as they dominated possession with a commanding sixty-one percent and dictated the early tempo. However, Cruz Azul embraced a clinical, counter-attacking blueprint that severely tested the visitors' resolve. The Intensity was palpable across the pitch as the hosts absorbed immense pressure before striking ruthlessly against the run of play at the thirty-four-minute mark. A masterful, defense-splitting delivery from Agustín Palavecino carved the backline apart, allowing Gabriel Fernández to confidently slot home the opener. Despite facing relentless passing combinations from the visitors, the home side maintained their disciplined shape to retreat to the dressing room with a hard-fought advantage.

The Substitutes' Synergy

Emerging for the second half, the league leaders mounted a fierce response to protect their cushion at the top. As the clock ticked down and desperation grew, the visitors turned to their bench, and the Balance of the match shifted dramatically under the floodlights. The tactical reshuffle paid spectacular dividends in the eighty-first minute, injecting a fresh wave of energy into the grueling contest. Two impact substitutes combined brilliantly to momentarily silence the imposing home crowd: R. Marin showcased superb attacking vision to tee up A. Sepúlveda, who applied a beautifully composed finish to level the scoreline. The momentum had seemingly swung entirely in favour of the visitors, setting up an unpredictable grandstand finale.

The Decisive Blow

Just as the visitors looked poised to escape with a valuable away point, the hosts produced a stunning final act that highlighted their championship credentials and removed any lingering Upset Factor. Merely four minutes after suffering that agonizing equalizer, Cruz Azul surged forward with remarkable renewed purpose. The magnificent Palavecino recorded his second pivotal assist of the evening, perfectly finding Carlos Rodríguez in a dangerous pocket of space. In the eighty-fifth minute, the midfielder unleashed a decisive, match-winning strike to restore the lead and completely shatter the visitors' defensive resilience. This monumental two-to-one triumph means both titans now sit deadlocked on thirty points, transforming the remainder of the campaign into an absolute thriller.

Key Questions

How dramatic was the late winner by Carlos Rodríguez?

It was pure theater; his 85th-minute strike broke the deadlock just moments after Chivas thought they had salvaged a crucial point.

How did substitute Carlos Rodríguez change the game?

While official records show he was actually a starter, his impact was undeniable, securing the win with a brilliant late goal to level the summit.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
39%
61%
Cruz Azul 39%
Guadalajara Chivas 61%
Shots
11
12
Cruz Azul 11
Guadalajara Chivas 12
Shots on Target
3
3
Cruz Azul 3
Guadalajara Chivas 3
Expected Goals (xG)
0.67
1.19
Cruz Azul 0.67
Guadalajara Chivas 1.19
Passes
249
396
Cruz Azul 249
Guadalajara Chivas 396
Pass Accuracy
67%
81%
Cruz Azul 67%
Guadalajara Chivas 81%
Corners
2
2
Cruz Azul 2
Guadalajara Chivas 2
Fouls
15
17
Cruz Azul 15
Guadalajara Chivas 17
Yellow Cards
7
3
Cruz Azul 7
Guadalajara Chivas 3
Red Cards
0
0
Cruz Azul 0
Guadalajara Chivas 0

Match Events

6' 🟨 C. Rotondi
D. Aguirre 🟨 6'
31' 🟨 E. Lira
O. Govea 🟨 33'
34' G. Fernandez (A. Palavecino)
38' 🟨 A. Gudino
40' 🟨 G. Piovi
R. Ledezma 🟨 41'
HT
51' 🟨 J. Paradela
E. Alvarez B. Gutierrez 🔄 54'
J. Castillo A. Sepulveda 🔄 54'
O. Govea H. Camberos 🔄 54'
57' 🔄 E. Lira A. Garcia
67' 🔄 G. Fernandez N. Ibanez
80' 🔄 J. Rodarte O. Campos
80' 🔄 J. Paradela L. Romero
A. Gonzalez R. Marin 🔄 80'
A. Sepulveda (R. Marin) 81'
85' C. Rodriguez (A. Palavecino)
R. Ledezma S. Sandoval 🔄 89'
90'+2 🟨 C. Rodriguez
90'+3 🟨 L. Romero
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Cruz Azul

Goalkeepers
A. Gudino
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
W. Ditta
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
E. Lira
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
G. Piovi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
J. Rodarte
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Palavecino
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
2
Assists
20%
Pass Acc
J. Marquez
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
5
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
C. Rotondi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
J. Paradela
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
G. Fernandez
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
C. Rodriguez
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
85
Goal Time
85
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.9
Rating
BENCH
E. Ochoa
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
O. Campos
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Montano
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Garcia
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Morales
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Valdez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Romero
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Ibanez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Ebere
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Diaz
👻 Invisible Nothing to note

Guadalajara Chivas

Goalkeepers
R. Rangel
SIEVE
SIEVE
33%
Save %
33%
Save %
2
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
D. Aguirre
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Campillo Del Campo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Castillo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
54
Total Mins
54
Entry
Midfielders
R. Ledezma
NPC
NPC
89
Minutes
89
Minutes
20%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
O. Govea
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
54
Total Mins
54
Entry
F. Gonzalez
MAGNET
MAGNET
66
Activity
66
Activity
56
Passes
10
Duels
B. Gonzalez
ENFORCER
ENFORCER
3
Tackles
3
Tackles
10
Duels Won
77%
Win %
Forwards
R. Alvarado
MAGNET
MAGNET
43
Activity
43
Activity
30
Passes
13
Duels
E. Alvarez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
54
Total Mins
54
Entry
A. Gonzalez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
BENCH
O. Whalley
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
G. Sepulveda
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Tapias
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Gomez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Gutierrez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Camberos
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
R. Marin
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
10
Minutes
7.3
Rating
A. Sepulveda
CLOSER
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Y. Padilla
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Sandoval
👻 Invisible Nothing to note

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
12/01/2025 Cruz Azul 3 - 2 Guadalajara Chivas Liga MX Estadio Olimpico Universitario
11/28/2025 Guadalajara Chivas 0 - 0 Cruz Azul Liga MX Estadio Akron
08/31/2025 Guadalajara Chivas 1 - 2 Cruz Azul Liga MX Estadio Akron
03/30/2025 Guadalajara Chivas 0 - 1 Cruz Azul Liga MX Estadio Jalisco
12/01/2025
Liga MX Estadio Olimpico Universitario
11/28/2025
Liga MX Estadio Akron
08/31/2025
Liga MX Estadio Akron
03/30/2025
Liga MX Estadio Jalisco
Cruz Azul Win
Guadalajara Chivas Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Guadalajara Chivas 7 18 12 6 +6 LCruz Azul 2 - 1 Guadalajara Chivas (22-02-2026)WGuadalajara Chivas 1 - 0 Club America (15-02-2026)WMazatlán 1 - 2 Guadalajara Chivas (07-02-2026)WAtletico San Luis 2 - 3 Guadalajara Chivas (31-01-2026)WGuadalajara Chivas 2 - 1 Club Queretaro (17-01-2026)
2 Cruz Azul 7 16 13 8 +5 WCruz Azul 2 - 1 Guadalajara Chivas (22-02-2026)WCruz Azul 2 - 1 Tigres UANL (15-02-2026)DToluca 1 - 1 Cruz Azul (07-02-2026)WFC Juarez 3 - 4 Cruz Azul (31-01-2026)WCruz Azul 1 - 0 Puebla (18-01-2026)
3 U.N.A.M. - Pumas 7 15 14 6 +8 WU.N.A.M. - Pumas 2 - 0 Monterrey (22-02-2026)WPuebla 2 - 3 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (14-02-2026)DAtlas 2 - 2 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (08-02-2026)WU.N.A.M. - Pumas 4 - 0 Santos Laguna (31-01-2026)DU.N.A.M. - Pumas 1 - 1 Leon (18-01-2026)
4 Toluca 7 15 9 2 +7 WNecaxa 0 - 3 Toluca (22-02-2026)WToluca 1 - 0 Club Tijuana (14-02-2026)DToluca 1 - 1 Cruz Azul (07-02-2026)DPuebla 0 - 0 Toluca (31-01-2026)DTigres UANL 0 - 0 Toluca (18-01-2026)
5 Pachuca 7 14 9 5 +4 WTigres UANL 1 - 2 Pachuca (21-02-2026)WPachuca 3 - 1 Atlas (14-02-2026)WPachuca 2 - 0 FC Juarez (08-02-2026)DClub Queretaro 0 - 0 Pachuca (01-02-2026)DPachuca 0 - 0 Club America (19-01-2026)
6 Atlas 7 13 9 9 0 WAtlas 3 - 2 Atletico San Luis (21-02-2026)LPachuca 3 - 1 Atlas (14-02-2026)DAtlas 2 - 2 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (08-02-2026)WAtlas 1 - 0 Mazatlán (31-01-2026)WNecaxa 0 - 1 Atlas (17-01-2026)
7 Club America 7 11 7 3 +4 WPuebla 0 - 4 Club America (21-02-2026)LGuadalajara Chivas 1 - 0 Club America (15-02-2026)WClub America 1 - 0 Monterrey (08-02-2026)WClub America 2 - 0 Necaxa (31-01-2026)DPachuca 0 - 0 Club America (19-01-2026)
8 Tigres UANL 7 10 11 8 +3 LTigres UANL 1 - 2 Pachuca (21-02-2026)LCruz Azul 2 - 1 Tigres UANL (15-02-2026)WTigres UANL 5 - 1 Santos Laguna (07-02-2026)WLeon 1 - 2 Tigres UANL (01-02-2026)DTigres UANL 0 - 0 Toluca (18-01-2026)
9 Monterrey 7 10 10 7 +3 LU.N.A.M. - Pumas 2 - 0 Monterrey (22-02-2026)WMonterrey 1 - 0 Leon (15-02-2026)LClub America 1 - 0 Monterrey (08-02-2026)DMonterrey 2 - 2 Club Tijuana (01-02-2026)WMazatlán 1 - 5 Monterrey (17-01-2026)
10 Necaxa 7 9 9 11 -2 LNecaxa 0 - 3 Toluca (22-02-2026)WFC Juarez 1 - 2 Necaxa (15-02-2026)WNecaxa 4 - 1 Atletico San Luis (07-02-2026)LClub America 2 - 0 Necaxa (31-01-2026)LNecaxa 0 - 1 Atlas (17-01-2026)
11 Club Tijuana 7 8 6 6 0 DClub Tijuana 1 - 1 Mazatlán (22-02-2026)LToluca 1 - 0 Club Tijuana (14-02-2026)DClub Tijuana 0 - 0 Puebla (07-02-2026)DMonterrey 2 - 2 Club Tijuana (01-02-2026)DClub Tijuana 1 - 1 Atletico San Luis (18-01-2026)
12 Atletico San Luis 7 7 12 13 -1 LAtlas 3 - 2 Atletico San Luis (21-02-2026)WAtletico San Luis 3 - 0 Club Queretaro (14-02-2026)LNecaxa 4 - 1 Atletico San Luis (07-02-2026)LAtletico San Luis 2 - 3 Guadalajara Chivas (31-01-2026)DClub Tijuana 1 - 1 Atletico San Luis (18-01-2026)
13 Leon 7 7 7 10 -3 WLeon 2 - 1 Santos Laguna (22-02-2026)LMonterrey 1 - 0 Leon (15-02-2026)LClub Queretaro 2 - 0 Leon (07-02-2026)LLeon 1 - 2 Tigres UANL (01-02-2026)DU.N.A.M. - Pumas 1 - 1 Leon (18-01-2026)
14 Club Queretaro 7 6 6 9 -3 DClub Queretaro 1 - 1 FC Juarez (08-04-2026)LAtletico San Luis 3 - 0 Club Queretaro (14-02-2026)WClub Queretaro 2 - 0 Leon (07-02-2026)DClub Queretaro 0 - 0 Pachuca (01-02-2026)LGuadalajara Chivas 2 - 1 Club Queretaro (17-01-2026)
15 FC Juarez 7 5 9 13 -4 DClub Queretaro 1 - 1 FC Juarez (08-04-2026)LFC Juarez 1 - 2 Necaxa (15-02-2026)LPachuca 2 - 0 FC Juarez (08-02-2026)LFC Juarez 3 - 4 Cruz Azul (31-01-2026)DSantos Laguna 2 - 2 FC Juarez (18-01-2026)
16 Puebla 7 5 4 10 -6 LPuebla 0 - 4 Club America (21-02-2026)LPuebla 2 - 3 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (14-02-2026)DClub Tijuana 0 - 0 Puebla (07-02-2026)DPuebla 0 - 0 Toluca (31-01-2026)LCruz Azul 1 - 0 Puebla (18-01-2026)
17 Mazatlán 7 4 7 14 -7 DClub Tijuana 1 - 1 Mazatlán (22-02-2026)WSantos Laguna 1 - 2 Mazatlán (15-02-2026)LMazatlán 1 - 2 Guadalajara Chivas (07-02-2026)LAtlas 1 - 0 Mazatlán (31-01-2026)LMazatlán 1 - 5 Monterrey (17-01-2026)
18 Santos Laguna 7 1 7 21 -14 LLeon 2 - 1 Santos Laguna (22-02-2026)LSantos Laguna 1 - 2 Mazatlán (15-02-2026)LTigres UANL 5 - 1 Santos Laguna (07-02-2026)LU.N.A.M. - Pumas 4 - 0 Santos Laguna (31-01-2026)DSantos Laguna 2 - 2 FC Juarez (18-01-2026)