Juan Reynoso Faces América Again, Carrying Opposite Memories from Cruz Azul and Puebla

Some opponents turn into a real headache, while others you simply figure out. For Juan Reynoso, América has been both, depending on which crest he had on his chest. Now, with Necaxa, the Peruvian coach will get the chance to find out which category this new version of the matchup falls into, in what will be his home debut in charge of the Rayos.

This is no ordinary meeting. Reynoso comes into this game after four years without facing the Eagles, and he does so with a record that splits almost like two sides of a coin: on one hand, the golden stretch with Cruz Azul; on the other, the nightmare he lived through at the helm of Puebla.

The Era When He Never Lost

When Reynoso was in charge of Cruz Azul, the Clasico Joven treated him beautifully. In three meetings against América, La Maquina never tasted defeat: two draws and one win. The run included a 0-0 in the Clausura 2022, a resounding 2-1 win for Cruz Azul in the Apertura 2021, and a 1-1 draw in the Guardianes 2021.

There's a curious detail linking that stretch to the current one: during that unbeaten run against the Eagles, Reynoso had Alexis Peña in defense, the same player who is now part of his squad at Necaxa. A coincidence that, should the formula repeat itself, wouldn't hurt the Hydrocalidos one bit.

With Puebla, Always the Same Story

The picture changes completely when you look at his time at Puebla. There, Reynoso ran into América three times, and all three times he came out on the losing end. From the Apertura 2019 to the Guardianes 2020, La Franja couldn't find a way to get anything positive, whether playing at the Cuauhtemoc or at the Banorte.

The rundown isn't encouraging: America 2-0 Puebla in the Apertura 2019, Puebla 0-1 America in the Clausura 2020, and Puebla 2-3 America in the Guardianes 2020. That last stumble had consequences that went beyond the scoreline: it marked the start of a free fall for the Camoteros that, not long after, ended up costing Reynoso his job on the bench.

Now the challenge is different. Necaxa is neither Cruz Azul nor Puebla, and the context of this new matchup doesn't resemble those tournaments either. But the numbers are there, a reminder that against America, Reynoso has proven just as capable of dominating as he has of suffering. This game will show which way the scale tips this time.