Liga MX Gameweek 7, Apertura
Cruz Azul 1 - 0 FT Santos Laguna
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
Aldo Lopez 50'
61' ↓ Luka Romero ↑José Paradela
61' ↓ Rogelio Andrés González Román ↑Alan Mozo
↓ L. Gómez ↑Esteban Lozano 61'
79' ↓ Nicolás Ibañez ↑Gabriel Fernández
79' ↓ Ángel Márquez ↑Erik Lira
↓ Ezequiel Bullaude ↑Eduardo Aguirre 84'
↓ Aldo Lopez ↑Francisco Villalba 84'
↓ Diego González ↑Emmanuel Echeverria 84'
↓ Kevin Palacios ↑Ramiro Sordo 87'
87' ↓ Carlos Rodriguez ↑Andrés Montaño
89' José Paradela (Andrés Montaño)
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Cruz Azul
Goalkeepers
K. Mier 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
J. Márquez 
MAGNET
89
Activity
89
Activity
78
Passes
11
Duels
W. Ditta
MAGNET
102
Activity
102
Activity
96
Passes
6
Duels
A. García
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Orozco 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
83%
Duel Win %
O. Campos 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
25%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
A. Palavecino
MAGNET
68
Activity
68
Activity
60
Passes
8
Duels
R. Gonzalez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
C. Rodríguez
ARCHITECT
5
Key Passes
5
Key Passes
0
Assists
38%
Pass Acc
BENCH
A. Gudiño 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
G. Piovi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Rodarte
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Mozo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Montes
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
É. Lira
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Montaño 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
J. Paradela 
CLUTCH HERO
89
Goal Time
89
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.2
Rating
C. Ebere
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
G. Fernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Santos Laguna
Goalkeepers
C. Acevedo 
OCTOPUS
6
Saves
6
Saves
0
Conceded
100%
Save %
Defenders
M. Cuevas
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jonathan Pérez 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Felipe Sánchez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Orona
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
S. Mariscal 
ENFORCER
5
Tackles
5
Tackles
5
Duels Won
71%
Win %
A. López 
SWEEPER
3
Cleanups
3
Cleanups
2
Interceptions
1
Blocks
D. González
MAGNET
45
Activity
45
Activity
35
Passes
10
Duels
Luis Gómez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
61
Total Mins
61
Entry
K. Palacios
MAGNET
42
Activity
42
Activity
28
Passes
14
Duels
Forwards
E. Bullaude 
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
H. Holguín
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Abella
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Echeverría
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Pardo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Güémez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Medina
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Sordo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
3
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Fran Villalba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Lozano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
29
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Aguirre
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
6
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/04/2026 | Santos Laguna | 1 - 2 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Corona |
| 08/17/2025 | Cruz Azul | 3 - 2 | Santos Laguna | Liga MX | Estadio Olímpico Universitario |
| 02/20/2025 | Santos Laguna | 0 - 1 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Corona |
| 11/03/2024 | Cruz Azul | 2 - 0 | Santos Laguna | Liga MX | Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes |
| 03/10/2024 | Santos Laguna | 3 - 0 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Corona |
| 08/20/2023 | Cruz Azul | 2 - 2 | Santos Laguna | Liga MX | Estadio Azteca |
| 04/30/2023 | Cruz Azul | 3 - 2 | Santos Laguna | Liga MX | Estadio Azteca |
| 08/07/2022 | Santos Laguna | 4 - 0 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Nuevo Corona |
| 02/28/2022 | Cruz Azul | 1 - 2 | Santos Laguna | Liga MX | Estadio Azteca |
| 08/01/2021 | Santos Laguna | 1 - 1 | Cruz Azul | Liga MX | Estadio Nuevo Corona |
03/04/2026
08/17/2025
02/20/2025
11/03/2024
03/10/2024
08/20/2023
04/30/2023
08/07/2022
02/28/2022
08/01/2021
Cruz Azul Win
Santos Laguna Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 6 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 6 GD: +8
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: -3
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 7 GD: -8
League Standings
P: 6 GD: +10
P: 7 GD: +6
P: 6 GD: +8
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: +1
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: +3
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 6 GD: 0
P: 6 GD: -3
P: 6 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -5
P: 6 GD: -2
P: 6 GD: -7
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Late Heroics Shatter the Santos Blockade
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 30/100. A one-sided tactical siege required magic from the bench to finally break the deadlock in the dying minutes.
A Tactical Stranglehold
The tactical script at Estadio Banorte was clearly defined within the opening exchanges. Cruz Azul dominated possession with a commanding 62% share of the ball, forcing their opponents into a deep, desperate defensive shape. The visitors arrived trapped near the bottom of the league standings with a dismal run of form, and their survival strategy was evident from the outset. The Intensity of the home side's attacking waves was relentless, yet they ran headfirst into an inspired performance between the posts. C. Acevedo was an absolute fortress, recording phenomenal reaction saves to keep his struggling side afloat. It was a classic clash of attacking intent versus defensive stubbornness, setting the stage for a grinding battle of attrition where patience would be severely tested.
The Corner Barrage
As the match progressed, any semblance of Balance completely vanished from the pitch. Santos Laguna were pinned back, managing just a single shot on target throughout the entire contest. Their rare counter-attacking attempts were expertly dismantled by J. Orozco, who delivered an outstanding shift to anchor the home defense. A staggering 25 combined shots and 14 total corners heavily illustrated the one-way traffic. The hosts launched barrage after barrage into the penalty area, turning the match into a half-pitch siege. Despite their overwhelming territorial control, finishing the final product proved maddeningly difficult against a resolute rearguard. The tension mounted in the stands as wave after wave crashed in vain against a stubborn green-and-white wall.
Salvation from the Bench
Matches characterized by entrenched defensive blocks often require a spark of ingenuity from the substitutes' bench. The manager's tactical tweaks eventually dismantled the resistance. José Paradela, introduced in the 61st minute, injected fresh urgency into the final third. Yet, it was the 87th-minute arrival of Andrés Montaño that finally picked the lock. Just two minutes after his introduction, Montaño delivered a precise assist for Paradela, who hammered home the 89th-minute winner. The late breakthrough shattered the visitors' hearts and sealed a hard-earned three points for the hosts. This dramatic finale highlights the importance of squad depth, lifting the home side up the table while condemning their opponents to another grim week struggling at the foot of the standings.
Key Questions
What made C. Acevedo the Man of the Match?
His 6 crucial saves kept a struggling Santos Laguna afloat against relentless attacking pressure, showcasing exceptional reflexes until the 89th minute.
How dramatic was the late winner by C. Acevedo?
Carlos Acevedo was actually the beaten goalkeeper. The dramatic 89th-minute winning goal was scored by Cruz Azul's attacking substitute, José Paradela.
How did substitute C. Acevedo change the game?
Acevedo was a starting goalkeeper. It was actually Cruz Azul substitutes José Paradela and Andrés Montaño who changed the game by combining for the late winning goal.
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.
Basement Battle at Estadio Banorte
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 6/100. With Santos Laguna anchored near the bottom of the table, this fixture is a gritty survival test rather than a showcase of beautiful football.
The Setup
Cruz Azul arrives sitting mid-table, looking to exploit a desperately unbalanced visitor. Our pre-match Balance rating reflects a massive gap between the sides, with the hosts heavily favored to control proceedings. Santos Laguna’s miserable Apertura start—five losses in six matches—leaves them fighting early relegation ghosts, dragging down the overall Stakes appeal for neutral observers. However, the Form metrics highlight leaky defenses on both ends, suggesting goals could flow despite the lack of top-tier Stars taking the pitch.
Key Battle
Cruz Azul will look to their attacking talisman, N. Ibáñez, to break the lines. He squares off against Fran Villalba in the middle of the park for Santos Laguna. Villalba must disrupt the supply chain; if he fails to close down the space, the home side will dictate the tempo effortlessly.
Our Prediction
We expect a comfortable victory for the hosts. Cruz Azul will dominate the ball and capitalize on Santos Laguna's fragile backline, likely securing a multi-goal cushion well before the final whistle blows.