- Monterrey have dominated this fixture recently, winning all five meetings, with an aggregate score of 12-2.
- Santos are last on the Clausura 2026 standings with 9-10 points from 15-16 games, while Monterrey are mid-table with 18 points from 16 games, just missing out on the automatic Liguilla places.
- The over 2.5 goals market is 1.44.
All change for Monterrey
All is not well at Monterrey as they head to Torreón on Sunday to face Santos Laguna Mexico in a late-season Liga MX fixture. Nico Sánchez has been in temporary charge since Domènec Torrent's departure and his results have fluctuated as he has tried to adapt pragmatic setups to ones that give more chance for the talented players to express themselves.
In midfield, playmaker Sergio Canales is the key. His availability is a major factor in Monterrey’s attacking output and when he is in the team they usually get plenty of ball control and creativity from the second and third lines. Their finishing has been poor, though.
Uroš Đurđević leads the line as their top scorer and is always a threat up front. He is always a threat on his day and is the main reason why Monterrey could get the three points if they play with belief.
Laguna low in the pool
Santos Laguna have been poor all season and languish at the bottom of the Clausura standings with only one win and a draw in their last five games, which have included a 4-2 defeat to Pachuca and a 3-0 defeat to Chivas. They have plenty of pace in attack with Brian Rodríguez and Lucas Di Yorio around Ezequiel Bullaude, but the team’s offensive threat remains limited.
Omar Tapia has focused on defensive discipline and work-rate since becoming interim manager in February 2026 and they have at least been solid enough to compete against most teams in this league.
Monterrey to maintain control
This game pits a side that plays a high-tempo, vertical style that presses and counters against a team that likes to play with the ball and progress it in a controlled way, so we may see a few swings in the tactical flow of the game.
Monterrey are in the better shape and have dominated this fixture over the past two years so we’re taking the visitors to squeeze out an away victory here in a tight matchup.
Hot and windy conditions in Torreón could also play a part as the game wears on, possibly preventing the hosts from getting their customary second wind. The odds are heavily weighted towards Monterrey, who are 1.81 to win while Santos are 3.76 and the draw is 3.92.
The over 2.5 goals market is available at 1.44, which suggests the bookmakers expect the visitors to get on the scoresheet at least a couple of times. This seems likely as Rayados have often both scored and conceded multiple goals in recent matches.
