- Team form: Atlas have been solid at home and overall during the Clausura 2026, though their recent results have been better than their performances, with the exception of a 1 - 0 away win and a 3 - 2 comeback against Atlético San Luis.
- Head-to-head: Monterrey are the dominant side in the modern head-to-head record with 19 wins to Atlas’s 6 in all competitions.
- Team inconsistency: Rayados have been inconsistent, blowing teams away on their day, but also capable of costly lapses in concentration that cost them games.
In-form Atlas can cause Rayados to falter
Atlas will take on Monterrey in an important Liga MX game on Sunday with both sides looking to secure a result that could be vital for their Liguilla or play-in spot aspirations.
Atlas sit in mid-table on approximately 18 points from 13 games so far in the Clausura 2026, but CF Rayados de Monterrey are on about 14 points. And while the home side have been in much better form, they will find Monterrey a difficult opponent to break down following the Copa Pacífico final.
The score was 2-1 to Rayados when they last met in the final of that friendly competition and Monterrey have a potent striker in Anthony Martial, although the Frenchman will need to be up to speed to make a difference against the home team. Diego González takes the penalties and dead balls for Atlas and has a keen eye, while Diego Cocca’s men also have an excellent goalkeeper in Camilo Vargas who has saved them in tough games already and has the leadership qualities to organise the backline.
Monterrey boss Sánchez looking to find a formula
Opposition setup
Manuel Capasso is another stopper on the backline and his performances have improved of late with Rodrigo Schlegel serving a suspension. Cocca’s side are well drilled and compact, playing either a 5-4-1 or 3-5-2 formation with two wing-backs and narrow defensive lines. They press selectively and move the ball quickly up the field when they have it - a marked contrast to Monterrey’s possession-based game.
Rayados' challenges
Nicolás Sánchez is trying to settle on a formula for the Rayados after they parted ways with Domènec Torrent. He has inherited a talented team with a lot of attacking prowess, but they can be leaky at the back and need more focus and structure.
Sánchez’s brief reign has included a 5 - 1 rout at Mazatlán and a 2-3 defeat at home to Guadalajara. They lost 1-2 to Atlético San Luis in their last outing and need a change of fortunes here. Germán Berterame and the other young attackers have contributed to some high-scoring games with goals, but Sánchez needs to find a system that allows them to play to their potential.
Toro’ Rodríguez and Aguirre can find the gaps in the Atlas defense
Sergio Canales is the heart of the operation and found the winner in the win over Mazatlán while providing consistent assists during the early stages of the Clausura. ‘Toro’ Rodríguez and Eduardo Aguirre are likely to get on the scoresheet if they get good service into the penalty box.
We’ll take the hosts here at a shade above evens because they are the in-form side and Monterrey have been too inconsistent to warrant support at that price.
The late changes for the game could be significant as Atlas will be without some players through suspension while Monterrey have rotated their squad a lot recently, so we can’t be totally confident that the visitors will win here. A warm, dry evening in Guadalajara could suit Atlas’s style of play as their structure will allow them to get numbers behind the ball and pounce when they win the ball back.
Cocca’s discipline has made them a tough nut to crack at Estadio Jalisco, although they are not the sort of side to blow teams away. But they will nick games like they did against Atlético San Luis last time out and we believe they can do it again against Monterrey.
- The bookmakers like this game to feature goals with over 2.5 available at 1.83 and both teams to score at 1.65, but we can see this being a tight game with the bookmakers getting it wrong, again.
- Monterrey are the slight favorites at 2.12, while Atlas are 3.25 and the draw 3.5.
