Liga MX Apertura - 3

Puebla 1 - 0 FT Santos Laguna

Estadio Cuauhtémoc

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

Futmetrix Verdict
26
FT
Sat, Jul 26
Español
Puebla
1-0
Santos Laguna
⚡ Intensity 24
⚖️ Balance 20
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 0
Substitutes strike late for Puebla.

Substitutes Strike Late to Reward Puebla's Dominance

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 26/100. In a gritty lower-table clash where both sides desperately needed a lifeline, it was inspired tactical substitutions that finally broke a stubborn deadlock and rewarded the more ambitious team.

One-Way Traffic

The tactical script at Estadio Cuauhtémoc was laid bare almost immediately following the referee's opening whistle, with Puebla asserting total control over proceedings against a deeply struggling Santos Laguna side. The home team meticulously dictated the tempo, commanding possession at 59% and pinning the visitors deep inside their own defensive third for long stretches. The relentless Intensity of the hosts' attacking siege systematically turned the penalty area into a shooting gallery, yielding a staggering 19 total attempts on goal compared to a completely isolated six from the away side. At the heart of this overwhelming dominance was Edgar Guerra, who masterfully pulled the strings in central midfield, consistently breaking lines and finding pockets of space. Forced onto the back foot from the outset, the visitors largely abandoned sustained possession, resorting instead to a high volume of cynical fouls to disrupt the rhythm.

The Manager's Masterstroke

Despite utterly dominating the statistical categories and amassing a formidable expected goals tally of 1.95, the Balance of the match remained stubbornly level as the clock ticked deep into the second half. The away side's defensive block held firm, frustrating the hosts and raising fears of a wasteful scoreless draw. Ultimately, the decisive breakthrough required a stroke of inspiration directly from the manager's dugout. The defining pivot arrived in the 79th minute when two fresh pairs of legs combined with devastating effect. E. Gomez, introduced earlier to inject much-needed width and directness, delivered a perfectly weighted ball into the danger zone. Waiting to pounce was R. Marin, who had been on the pitch for a mere eight minutes before executing a clinical finish that finally punished the exhausted visiting defence and shattered their resistance.

Survival Instincts

The enormous Stakes involved in this crucial lower-table encounter meant the final ten minutes were purely an exercise in disciplined game management, an effort brilliantly orchestrated by Nicolás Díaz across the defensive line. Boasting a dismal record of eight defeats heading into this fixture, the away side completely lacked the attacking quality or the belief necessary to mount a meaningful late comeback. Consequently, there was absolutely zero Upset Factor on display throughout the evening; the final outcome was a perfectly accurate reflection of the one-sided pattern of play. This heavily deserved victory provides the hosts with vital breathing room in the division's lower reaches, while simultaneously condemning their desperate opponents to another deflating defeat that leaves them firmly anchored to the very bottom of the league standings.

Key Questions

How did substitute Edgar Guerra change the game?

Despite actually starting the match, Edgar Guerra functioned as the ultimate midfield engine, dictating the tempo and delivering four key passes to relentlessly unlock the opposition's defence.

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
59%
41%
Puebla 59%
Santos Laguna 41%
Shots
19
6
Puebla 19
Santos Laguna 6
Shots on Target
4
1
Puebla 4
Santos Laguna 1
Expected Goals (xG)
1.95
0.22
Puebla 1.95
Santos Laguna 0.22
Passes
416
300
Puebla 416
Santos Laguna 300
Pass Accuracy
77%
67%
Puebla 77%
Santos Laguna 67%
Corners
6
2
Puebla 6
Santos Laguna 2
Fouls
7
17
Puebla 7
Santos Laguna 17
Yellow Cards
1
3
Puebla 1
Santos Laguna 3
Red Cards
0
0
Puebla 0
Santos Laguna 0

Match Events

12' 🟨 Luis Gabriel Rey
Ramiro Sordo 🟨 20'
C. Lozano B. Barticciotto 🔄 33'
HT
55' 🔄 M. Ramirez E. Gomez
F. Villalba J. Carrillo 🔄 62'
R. Sordo C. Dajome 🔄 62'
71' 🔄 E. Lozano R. Marin
79' R. Marin (E. Gomez)
Jordan Carrillo 🟨 82'
E. Echeverria K. Palacios 🔄 83'
A. Lopez F. Fagundez 🔄 83'
Haret Ortega 🟨 85'
90' 🔄 O. Gonzalez F. Monarrez
90' 🔄 A. Organista J. R. Pachuca Martinez
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Puebla

Goalkeepers
J. Rodriguez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
L. Rey
SWEEPER
SWEEPER
6
Cleanups
6
Cleanups
6
Interceptions
0
Blocks
J. Fedorco
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Diaz
WALL
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
100%
Duel Win %
Midfielders
P. Gamarra
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
E. Guerra
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
A. Organista
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Ramirez
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
O. Gonzalez
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
0
Assists
18%
Pass Acc
Forwards
F. Moyano
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
E. Lozano
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
BENCH
J. Gonzalez
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
J. Cortes
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Monarrez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. R. Pachuca Martinez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Baltazar
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
I. Moreno
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Guido Paz
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
E. Gomez
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
35
Minutes
7.6
Rating
R. Marin
CLOSER
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
W. Portales
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Santos Laguna

Goalkeepers
C. Acevedo
MAGNET
MAGNET
49
Activity
49
Activity
49
Passes
0
Duels
Defenders
H. Ortega
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
K. Balanta
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
B. Amione
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
J. Abella
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Guemez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Lopez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
E. Echeverria
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Forwards
R. Sordo
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
C. Lozano
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
34
Total Mins
33
Entry
F. Villalba
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
BENCH
H. Holguin
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
E. Gutierrez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Carrillo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Mariscal Murra
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Medina
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Palacios
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
R. Prieto
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Barticciotto
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
56
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Dajome
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
F. Fagundez
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
07/26/2025 Puebla 1 - 0 Santos Laguna Liga MX Estadio Cuauhtémoc
02/02/2025 Santos Laguna 0 - 2 Puebla Liga MX Estadio Corona
07/05/2024 Puebla 1 - 0 Santos Laguna Liga MX Estadio Cuauhtémoc
01/31/2024 Santos Laguna 3 - 0 Puebla Liga MX Estadio Corona
07/08/2023 Puebla 2 - 3 Santos Laguna Liga MX Estadio Cuauhtémoc
02/27/2023 Santos Laguna 3 - 2 Puebla Liga MX Estadio Nuevo Corona
07/26/2025
Liga MX Estadio Cuauhtémoc
02/02/2025
Liga MX Estadio Corona
07/05/2024
Liga MX Estadio Cuauhtémoc
01/31/2024
Liga MX Estadio Corona
07/08/2023
Liga MX Estadio Cuauhtémoc
02/27/2023
Liga MX Estadio Nuevo Corona
Puebla Win
Santos Laguna Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Pachuca 3 9 7 2 +5 WPachuca 1 - 0 Mazatlán (26-07-2025)WU.N.A.M. - Pumas 2 - 3 Pachuca (20-07-2025)WPachuca 3 - 0 Monterrey (13-07-2025)
2 Tigres UANL 3 7 5 3 +2 DGuadalajara Chivas 0 - 0 Tigres UANL (18-09-2025)WToluca 3 - 4 Tigres UANL (27-07-2025)WTigres UANL 1 - 0 FC Juarez (20-07-2025)
3 Toluca 3 6 10 7 +3 LToluca 3 - 4 Tigres UANL (27-07-2025)WSantos Laguna 2 - 4 Toluca (17-07-2025)WToluca 3 - 1 Necaxa (13-07-2025)
4 Monterrey 3 6 4 4 0 WMonterrey 3 - 1 Atlas (27-07-2025)WAtletico San Luis 0 - 1 Monterrey (19-07-2025)LPachuca 3 - 0 Monterrey (13-07-2025)
5 Cruz Azul 3 5 7 4 +3 WCruz Azul 4 - 1 Leon (27-07-2025)DAtlas 3 - 3 Cruz Azul (20-07-2025)DCruz Azul 0 - 0 Mazatlán (13-07-2025)
6 Club America 3 5 5 3 +2 DNecaxa 1 - 1 Club America (27-07-2025)WClub America 3 - 1 Club Tijuana (17-07-2025)DFC Juarez 1 - 1 Club America (12-07-2025)
7 Necaxa 3 4 5 5 0 DNecaxa 1 - 1 Club America (27-07-2025)WNecaxa 3 - 1 Club Queretaro (19-07-2025)LToluca 3 - 1 Necaxa (13-07-2025)
8 Guadalajara Chivas 3 4 4 4 0 DGuadalajara Chivas 0 - 0 Tigres UANL (18-09-2025)WGuadalajara Chivas 4 - 3 Atletico San Luis (26-07-2025)LLeon 1 - 0 Guadalajara Chivas (20-07-2025)
9 Mazatlán 3 4 2 2 0 LPachuca 1 - 0 Mazatlán (26-07-2025)WMazatlán 2 - 1 Puebla (19-07-2025)DCruz Azul 0 - 0 Mazatlán (13-07-2025)
10 Atlas 3 4 7 8 -1 LMonterrey 3 - 1 Atlas (27-07-2025)DAtlas 3 - 3 Cruz Azul (20-07-2025)WPuebla 2 - 3 Atlas (12-07-2025)
11 Club Tijuana 3 4 3 4 -1 DClub Tijuana 1 - 1 FC Juarez (26-07-2025)LClub America 3 - 1 Club Tijuana (17-07-2025)WClub Tijuana 1 - 0 Club Queretaro (12-07-2025)
12 Santos Laguna 3 3 5 5 0 LPuebla 1 - 0 Santos Laguna (26-07-2025)LSantos Laguna 2 - 4 Toluca (17-07-2025)WSantos Laguna 3 - 0 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (13-07-2025)
13 Puebla 3 3 4 5 -1 WPuebla 1 - 0 Santos Laguna (26-07-2025)LMazatlán 2 - 1 Puebla (19-07-2025)LPuebla 2 - 3 Atlas (12-07-2025)
14 Atletico San Luis 3 3 4 5 -1 LGuadalajara Chivas 4 - 3 Atletico San Luis (26-07-2025)LAtletico San Luis 0 - 1 Monterrey (19-07-2025)WLeon 0 - 1 Atletico San Luis (14-07-2025)
15 U.N.A.M. - Pumas 3 3 4 6 -2 WClub Queretaro 0 - 2 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (26-07-2025)LU.N.A.M. - Pumas 2 - 3 Pachuca (20-07-2025)LSantos Laguna 3 - 0 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (13-07-2025)
16 Leon 3 3 2 5 -3 LCruz Azul 4 - 1 Leon (27-07-2025)WLeon 1 - 0 Guadalajara Chivas (20-07-2025)LLeon 0 - 1 Atletico San Luis (14-07-2025)
17 FC Juarez 3 2 2 3 -1 DClub Tijuana 1 - 1 FC Juarez (26-07-2025)LTigres UANL 1 - 0 FC Juarez (20-07-2025)DFC Juarez 1 - 1 Club America (12-07-2025)
18 Club Queretaro 3 0 1 6 -5 LClub Queretaro 0 - 2 U.N.A.M. - Pumas (26-07-2025)LNecaxa 3 - 1 Club Queretaro (19-07-2025)LClub Tijuana 1 - 0 Club Queretaro (12-07-2025)