Cruz Azul turn their attention back to Liga MX after their trip to the United States. La Máquina Celeste visit Monterrey this Sunday at the Estadio BBVA, looking to get back on track following Wednesday's defeat to Inter Miami.
Andrés Lillini's side enters the Apertura 2026 ninth round sitting fourth in the overall standings, with 15 points from five wins and three losses. Their recent form in the domestic tournament is strong, with four victories in their last five matches, including an epic 4-3 win over Club América. However, the stumble in Miami (2-0) with goals from Lionel Messi and Casemiro halted a positive run.
The Monterrey challenge
The opponent, Monterrey, is going through a tough spell. Los Rayados have suffered two consecutive league defeats, against León and Atlético San Luis, and occupy twelfth place in the table. Recent history favors Cruz Azul, who eliminated Monterrey in the Concacaf Champions League quarter-finals last March with a 4-3 aggregate score. The last meeting between the two on Monterrey soil ended in a 3-2 victory for the Celeste.
For this clash, Lillini will have almost his entire squad available. The only confirmed absence is midfielder Amaury Morales, who is recovering from a knee injury and is not expected back before January. The manager could make some tactical adjustments after the toll of the Miami match, but the core of the team that beat América is expected to feature. Forward J. Márquez, the team's top scorer this season with three goals, will be a key piece in attack.
The defense, which has conceded 14 goals in eight games, will face the challenge of containing a Monterrey side desperate for points. Cruz Azul needs the three points to stay in the title race, as they sit four points behind leaders Toluca. The team will travel on Saturday for their final training session in the Nuevo León capital.
