- Monterrey are in mixed form, having been prolific in attack but defensively fragile in Clausura 2026
- Atlas are solid at home, grinding out results with narrow wins at Estadio Jalisco
- Atlas sit mid-table on approximately 18 points from 13 Clausura games, Monterrey on roughly 14.
Cocca’s disciplined Atlas can stifle Rayados
CF Atlas Guadalajara have shown good form on home soil in the Clausura 2026 season, grinding out some narrow wins at Estadio Jalisco.
The home side have been solid at Estadio Jalisco this term. They are much more solid on their own turf than away from home and even more so than their league position suggests.
Cocca’s defence-first tactics always aim to keep things compact and organised, with a flexible 5-4-1 or 3-5-2 system that allows them to press in the opposition half at times, but rarely without numerical superiority. They sit deep and counter attack with pace and precision when they can.
Sánchez’s side have more attacking talent
Nicolás Sánchez is Monterrey’s interim boss after Domènec Torrent’s exit. He has some talented attackers to work with but the backline has been a problem all season long, costing them too many goals.
Sánchez’s tenure started with a 4-0 thumping, but Rayados have not looked solid since and remain inconsistent in results, although they did beat Atlas 2-1 in the Copa Pacífica final recently. In addition to that, there will be a bit of added spice to this Liga MX clash with Rayados only a few points behind Atlas in the race for Liguilla or play-in places.
The visitors need the points more than the home team and should supply the ball-dominant approach to this game, which will see Monterrey try to build a rhythm in possession and play on the flanks to stretch the opposition.
Goalkeepers can be key
While Atlas’s Camilo Vargas is perhaps the better goalkeeper, Monterrey have the most dangerous striker in Anthony Martial, but he is susceptible to injury and may not be fully fit for this clash.
Vargas, however, always stops plenty of goals and can be relied upon to produce a big save when Atlas are under pressure. A home win is more likely in this clash of styles, although both teams to score and over 2.5 goals could be the way to go with the bookies pricing those odds at 1.65 and 1.83 respectively.
Monterrey are around 2.12 to win and Atlas 3.25 with the draw at 3.5. A draw would be the most disappointing result for the visitors, who are the more desperate to win, but we will take Atlas to grind out another win at Jalisco.
Monterrey are masters of the counter-attack
Atlas have some useful attacking players, like Diego González, who has set-piece prowess and can be trusted to take penalties. In-form striker Agustín ‘Toro’ Rodríguez has been a threat to finish off chances and Eduardo Aguirre has also been in the right place at the right time to score.
Monterrey’s Germán Berterame has also been among the goals and youngsters have stepped up to the plate when needed. The Rayados have a long history of scoring multiple goals, but Atlas could be vulnerable at the back on Sunday when a few suspensions at the heart of their defence make Cocca’s team look vulnerable.
Backing the hosts looks good given their home form and Monterrey’s inconsistency, but this game could be decided by late changes to the line-ups. Atlas boss Cocca is a master of tactical discipline and should keep his side well drilled while Sánchez is still working out his best team to suit the personnel he has at hand.
