Rayados de Monterrey got off to a strong start in the 2026 Apertura Tournament, though they had to work hard to defeat Santos Laguna 3-2 in a thrilling match played at BBVA Stadium. The Monterrey team capitalized on an explosive start to take the lead, withstood Santos’ comeback, and ultimately secured their first three points of the season.
The team coached by Matías Almeyda displayed an attacking style from the opening minutes and found its star player of the night in Lucas Ocampos, while Santos never gave up and kept the outcome in doubt until the final whistle.
Lucas Ocampos led the way for the Rayados
Monterrey came out determined to set the tone in front of their home crowd and was quickly rewarded.
In the 20th minute, Lucas Ocampos opened the scoring with a superb finish to put the Rayados ahead. Just five minutes later, the Argentine forward struck again to complete his brace and extend the lead, sparking euphoria in the stands of the “Gigante de Acero.”
Monterrey’s dominance continued, and before the half-hour mark, Jesús Manuel “Tecatito” Corona scored the third goal of the match, making it a commanding 3-0 that seemed to seal the game very early on.
Santos fought back, but it wasn’t enough
Just when it seemed the match was decided, Santos found a response before halftime.
Lucas Di Yorio pulled one back in the 40th minute to breathe life into the Santos team and shift the momentum of the match heading into the second half.
In the second half, the Guerreros pushed forward in search of a comeback and put the Monterrey defense under pressure. The pressure paid off in stoppage time, when Eduardo Aguirre scored to make it 3-2 in the 96th minute, though the goal came too late to avoid the loss.
Monterrey makes a strong impression in its debut
Despite the dramatic finish, the Rayados showed promising signs in their Apertura 2026 opener.
The team displayed offensive firepower during the first half-hour, capitalized on the quality of players like Lucas Ocampos and Jesús Corona, and confirmed that it has a roster capable of competing for the top spots in the tournament.
However, the end of the match also revealed areas for improvement, especially in defensive focus, after allowing Santos to cut into a lead that had seemed insurmountable.
Santos Finds Positives Despite the Loss
Although they started the tournament with a setback, Santos Laguna showed resilience and avoided a heavier defeat thanks to their persistence in the final stages of the match.
The Guerreros found openings as the match progressed and managed to put pressure on the Rayados, showing signs that they can compete if they achieve greater defensive solidity in the coming matches.
With this result, Monterrey earns its first three points of the 2026 Apertura and sends a positive message at the start of the championship, while Santos will need to quickly turn the page and work on the mistakes made in its debut to seek its first victory in the next matchday.
