America Arrives as Unbeaten Leader but Bruised After Two Straight Losses; Cruz Azul Looks to Bounce Back in Saturday's Clasico Joven

Four points separate America from Cruz Azul in the Apertura 2026 standings, but the past week told two completely different stories. The league leader arrives with its unbeaten record intact and two painful Leagues Cup losses still stinging, while the defending champion has its confidence up after back to back wins pulled it out of an uncomfortable slump. Saturday, September 12, brings the Clasico Joven and, as usual, it promises fireworks.

A League Leader With Its Confidence a Little Bruised

Let's start with the numbers, because they don't lie: America has 16 points from six Liga MX matches, with five wins and a draw, 12 goals scored and just two allowed. It's by far the best start to a tournament under Guillermo Almada. The problem is the week didn't end there.

In the Leagues Cup, Las Aguilas had been building momentum: 3-1 routs over San Diego FC and the Portland Timbers, a penalty shootout exit against Austin FC for the bonus point, and a solid 2-0 win over Columbus Crew in the quarterfinals. But Monterrey cut that run short in the semifinals: America came back from a 0-1 deficit, went up 2-1, then conceded the equalizer and fell in penalties, 5-4. Four days later came another blow: Leon won the third place match 1-0 on a Diber Cambindo header in the 80th minute. It was Almada's first loss in charge of the club, and it came paired with another defeat in just four days.

On the transfer front, the story is still being written. America started the tournament without any signings, leaning on the core from last semester to hold up the level. Since then came Oscar Perea (who scored on his debut against Portland), Edwin Cerrillo (already a starter against Monterrey) and Miguel Borja, who has yet to debut with the first team. Carlos Alvarez only joined at the close of the transfer window. The group Almada inherited is still the one calling the shots.

Cruz Azul Finds Its Footing Just in Time

The defending champion struggled a lot more to find its rhythm. After a strong start against Atletico de San Luis and Puebla, it dropped three straight league games: 3-2 against Atlante, 2-1 against Tijuana and 2-0 against Atlas. The Leagues Cup didn't go much better: two wins to open the tournament, then a 2-1 loss to Chicago Fire that knocked it out after the group stage.

The turnaround came right before the Clasico. Joel Huiqui's side routed Necaxa 3-1, then beat Santos 1-0 on a goal from Jose Paradela in the 89th minute. Those six points moved Cruz Azul up to sixth place with 12 points, though the win over Santos left some doubts: the team dominated for most of the match but struggled badly to break down an opponent sitting at the bottom of the table.

On the transfer front, Cruz Azul made few moves. Juan Jose Calero, Alan Montes and Alan Mozo all joined, with Mozo making his debut against Santos with a half hour on the field. The bigger news was elsewhere: Erik Lira stayed with the club after his transfer to Monaco fell through at the close of the European window, and he already logged minutes against Santos. It's a significant piece for Huiqui to have back just in time.

We needed these wins to build confidence heading into the ClasicoJoel Huiqui

The standings clearly favor America, but the recent form levels things out far more than a four point gap would suggest. A league leader with fresh wounds against a champion just starting to find its stride again: that's what's on tap Saturday in the Clasico Joven.

The Other Clasico Arrives Banged Up Too

The same weekend brings the Clasico Regio, and neither side arrives in good shape. Monterrey lost 2-0 in the Leagues Cup final to Toluca after eliminating America in the semifinals, and also fell 3-1 to Atletico de San Luis in Liga MX before that final. Tigres, meanwhile, has just six points through seven matchdays and is coming off a 1-1 draw with Necaxa.

Monterrey built a heavyweight roster with Diego Rossi, Orbelin Pineda and Hugo Cuypers joining Lucas Ocampos and Jesus Corona, and the first three already found the net in a 6-1 rout of FC Juarez. Tigres, on the other hand, is still adjusting after the departures of Andre-Pierre Gignac and Angel Correa, with Alan Franco, Mauro Lainez and Ricardo Monreal brought in as reinforcements that have yet to show up in the standings.