Cruz Azul showed its power by beating Comunicaciones FC 6-0 on July 11 at the Estadio Refundación, closing the pre‑season and confirming its status as defending champion of the Apertura 2026.
How did the match unfold?
From the first whistle, the Machine wasted no time. Christian Ébere scored twice in minutes 1 and 3, and Charly Rodríguez extended the lead at 6'. An own‑goal by Karel Espino (9') made it 4-0 before halftime. In the second half, Luka Romero completed the rout with two more goals (26' and 66'), leaving the final score 6-0. Coach Joel Huiqui fielded his strongest XI, including Kevin Mier, Omar Campos, Jesús Orozco Chiquete and Agustín Palavecino.
What does this win mean for the Apertura?
The dominant victory boosts squad confidence ahead of the official start of the tournament, slated for the week of July 17. As defending champions, Cruz Azul will open away at Atlético San Luis in the Estadio Libertad Financiera and host Puebla in the second round. Fans, chanting “Champion, champion!” throughout the game, expect the solid defense (only 18 goals conceded in 31 matches) and potent attack (31 goals scored) to continue throughout the season.
What is the current league standing?
Cruz Azul currently sits third in Liga MX with 33 points, after 9 wins, 6 draws and 2 losses in 17 games, and is on a WDWDW run. The team is just 3 points behind leaders U.N.A.M. - Pumas, placing it in a strong position to contest the title.
What’s next for the Machine?
The next official fixture is a home friendly against New York City FC on August 9, 2026, a test before the second half of the schedule. Additionally, the club has asked Liga MX to move its home games to the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, seeking larger capacity and better playing conditions. The decision awaits field inspection and regulatory compliance.
What are the expectations for the squad?
With players like Luka Romero, Christian Ébere and Charly Rodríguez in form, the roster has multiple weapons to keep pressure on the leaders. Joel Huiqui appears to trust a balanced line‑up that blends experience with youth, which could translate into more wins and, hopefully, another league crown.
