Chivas Claims Second Place in Liga MX as Toluca Drops in Standings

Guadalajara secured a 1-0 victory over Monterrey during the 14th round of the Apertura 2026 Liga MX tournament, a result that propelled the squad into second place in the standings with 26 points. The decisive match took place at the Monterrey stadium, where visiting Chivas capitalized on defensive errors and solid goalkeeping to strengthen their position ahead of the final phase of the regular season.

The lone goal of the encounter arrived in the ninth minute following a defensive miscue by Monterrey's Víctor Toro Guzmán. The ball fell to Santiago Sandoval, who launched a rapid offensive sequence that concluded with Roberto Alvarado finding the back of the net from inside the penalty area, silencing the home crowd and setting the tone for the remainder of the match.

Monterrey attempted to mount a comeback by increasing its offensive pressure, but missed crucial opportunities to equalize. Among the most notable missed chances was a penalty kick awarded after a foul by Bryan Cotorro González on Ricardo Chávez. Lucas Ocampos stepped up to take the penalty for the home side, but his shot was successfully blocked by Guadalajara goalkeeper Raúl Tala Rangel, who dove to his right to preserve his team's lead.

The second half unfolded under severe weather conditions as a heavy storm complicated the rhythm of the game. Despite continuous pressure from the local side, Guadalajara maintained its defensive organization. In the final moments of the contest, tension escalated when referee Víctor Cáceres expelled Orbelín Pineda at the 91st minute, leaving Monterrey with ten players.

Monterrey thought they had secured a late equalizer through Diego Rossi, but a video assistant referee (VAR) review ultimately invalidated the goal due to a handball violation. With these decisive rulings, Chivas successfully defended their narrow lead until the final whistle, adding three crucial points on the road.

The outcome significantly impacted the upper echelon of the tournament table. Guadalajara's victory elevated them to the runner-up position with 26 points, while Deportivo Toluca slipped to the third spot in the standings with 23 points. Meanwhile, Monterrey remained in seventh place with 20 points, failing to capitalize on home-field advantage.

Beyond the standings shift, the fixture carried emotional significance due to the return of coach Matías Almeyda facing his former club. Almeyda, who previously led Guadalajara to a Liga MX title in 2017, directed Monterrey from the opposing bench. Despite the emotional backdrop, Chivas walked away with the victory to solidify their status among the top contenders of the tournament.