- Team form: Pachuca are unbeaten in five with three wins and two draws, their most recent result being a 2-1 away win at Cruz Azul.
- League position: Santos Laguna are bottom of the table in 18th place with nine points from 13 games in Clausura 2026, winning only two, drawing three and losing eight.
Tuzos are flying with Salomón Rondón
Pachuca CF are flying high in the Clausura 2026 season’s top-four after winning three of their last five Liga MX games and Esteban Solari’s side will go into Sunday’s clash with Santos Laguna Mexico as heavy favorites to earn another three points.
Solari, who has overseen a surge into the top four, will sit out the game after being suspended for a red card he received in Pachuca’s 2-1 away win at Cruz Azul last weekend.
Pachuca’s assistant coach will take charge on the touchline and midfielder Christian Rivera will miss out through suspension, but Tuzos should have more than enough to see off the struggling Santos, whose crisis could deepen if they fail to win this must-win clash.
Omar Tapia has steadied the ship since taking over as interim manager after Francisco Rodríguez was dismissed mid-season, but the results are still patchy at best - two wins, one draw and two defeats in the last five.
Tuzos’ superior quality and home advantage
Santos' threats and defensive issues
Aguirre, who has been a consistent outlet for the struggling team, will again be tasked with providing moments of magic for Santos in this clash while goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo will need a big game to keep Pachuca’s top-quality attackers at bay.
With 31 goals conceded and only 15 scored, their defensive errors are the major reason why they are rock-bottom of the Clausura with a -16 goal difference.
Pachuca's attacking strengths
Pachuca’s direct and physical style of play, with wingers cutting in to support the striker and a pair of creative engines to unlock defenses, is a recipe for plenty of goals.
Rondón has been their biggest threat in the final third during this Clausura campaign, scoring goals and holding the ball up well to allow other players to get forward.
Kenedy’s direct running and ability to break the game wide open with his pace and skill is a massive asset for Pachuca, especially in the counter-attack, and his brace against Cruz Azul proved he can unlock a solid defense.
- Rondón has been their biggest threat in the final third during this Clausura campaign, scoring goals and holding the ball up well to allow other players to get forward.
- Kenedy’s direct running and ability to break the game wide open with his pace and skill is a massive asset for Pachuca, especially in the counter-attack, and his brace against Cruz Azul proved he can unlock a solid defense.
- With 31 goals conceded and only 15 scored, their defensive errors are the major reason why they are rock-bottom of the Clausura with a -16 goal difference.
Goals look the best play on Sunday
Pachuca are 1.4 for the win and that price is probably fair given their home advantage, unbeaten record at Estadio Hidalgo and superior form, but Santos are a 6.75 shot to take the points away.
The odds suggest this won’t be close, but we see a good chance of it being an end-to-end game.
Santos Laguna try to play a similar style of football to Pachuca, but they do it at a much higher tempo and with more intensity, pressing high up the field and looking to stretch the play with their fullbacks and wingers. Pachuca’s superior quality in each position and at home should see them get the edge in this tactical match-up and therefore take the match.
The Over 2.5 goals market at 1.44 looks a better play for the bettors and Pachuca’s attack should have enough in reserve to grab a couple of goals against Santos’ dodgy defense.
