- Atlas and Monterrey have played 1 match each so far. Atlas have failed to beat Monterrey in their last 3 attempts as hosts, and the last head-to-head in Mexico in Liga MX 2025/2026 ended 0-0. Both sides come into this match having lost 1 of their last 2 home and away respectively.
Stalemate in the West at Estadio Jalisco
Sunday's Liga MX 2026-2027 clash between CF Atlas Guadalajara (5th, 3pts) and CF Rayados de Monterrey (7th, 3pts) could be a real cagey encounter at Estadio Jalisco. Both sides are coming into the game with 3 points on the board after 1 fixture played, and both have been involved in some tight games so far in the new season.
Atlas head into this one 0-1-1 in their last 2 matches at home, and Monterrey are 0-1-1 in their last 2 away, so the home advantage hasn't been fully clicking for either side in their previous fixtures. The last 3 times that these two have locked horns at this venue, Atlas have come up short, but the most recent clash in Mexico in Liga MX 2025/2026 was a 0-0 stalemate.
Almeyda vs Crespo - chess match on the horizon
This is a clash between two managers with contrasting personalities, although both have a similar love for the underdog and playing high tempo football. Hernan Crespo took charge of Atlas on 16 July 2026 and has so far pushed his side towards a more proactive style of play.
Crespo has favoured a 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 formation, with vertical passing and an aggressive high press, although, as the head-to-head record shows, they've failed to break through against Monterrey in recent years. Matias Almeyda took the reigns of Rayados on 1 July 2026 and has played a high-tempo 4-3-3 style of football that builds on the ability to dominate wide channels and immediately transition into the attack.
This should be a really interesting tactical battle, as Crespo will want to use quick half-space attacks to get his players in behind the Monterrey defence, whilst Almeyda will look to squeeze the build-up and dominate the midfield area.
Dodgy odds and a goalfest seems unlikely
Atlas are 8/5 to win this game, Monterrey are 167/100 and the draw is 23/10, and whilst I wouldn't put much faith in the odds, they do suggest this could be a cagey clash. Both teams have a player who has been the spark for them in the opening games of the season, with Arturo Gonzalez (3 goals in last 5 games) and Lucas Ocampos (2 goals in 1 Liga MX 2026/2027, 4 in the last 5 games for Rayados) the danger men for each side.
Under 2.5 goals is priced at 39/50 whilst both teams to score - no looks like a decent punt at 49/50 and that's where I'm going in this one. If Monterrey can edge the midfield battle, they could get the win, but Atlas have a fresh look to them and have been impressive so far under Crespo. One moment of pressing chaos or a quick transition could win this for either team, but the stronger recent head-to-head edge for Rayados just gives them the edge.
