Liga MX action heats up this Saturday for Jornada 10 as Santos Laguna welcomes Pachuca to the Comarca Lagunera. Both squads enter this fixture with contrasting fortunes, setting the stage for one of the weekend's most intriguing tactical battles.
What Happened Recently
Santos Laguna pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the tournament in their previous outing. Playing away at La Bombonera, Renato Paiva’s squad orchestrated a stunning comeback from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Toluca 3-2, thanks to goals from Ballaude, Palacios, and Villalba. Despite securing that crucial second win of the campaign, Los Guerreros remain stuck in 17th place with just 7 points, making home advantage vital this weekend.
Meanwhile, Pachuca extended their solid run under Benjamín Mora. The Hidalgo side stretched their unbeaten streak to five matches—consisting of two wins and three draws—after grinding out a dramatic 2-2 draw against Xolos de Tijuana. That performance was spearheaded by a clinical brace from veteran striker Salomón Rondón, proving their attack remains a persistent threat.
Why It Matters
The stakes are high at both ends of the table for this clash, directly impacting the Apertura tournament's postseason picture. Santos needs a victory to spark a definitive turnaround and climb out of the lower reaches of the standings, where every dropped point deepens their crisis.
On the other side, Los Tuzos sit in 11th place with 12 points. They are separated by just two points from breaking into the upper tier of the playoff qualification zone, keeping motivation and urgency at an all-time high as the regular season crosses its midway point.
What to Watch For
Carlos Acevedo will anchor the defensive efforts for Santos, utilizing the intense local climate at the Estadio Corona to disrupt Pachuca’s buildup rhythm. However, keeping a red-hot Salomón Rondón quiet will prove the ultimate test for the verdiblanca backline.
Future Outlook
For Santos, a win could serve as the psychological turning point needed to salvage their campaign and mount a late charge toward the play-in spots. Pachuca, meanwhile, views this away fixture as a prime opportunity to cement their spot in the top ten and build momentum ahead of a grueling stretch against league title contenders. Expect a high-intensity matchup as both managers chase critical table-positioning points.
