Monterrey And Tijuana Battle To Dramatic Draw In Liga MX

Saturday night at Estadio BBVA delivered just what fans of Liga MX have come to expect: drama, intensity, and a flurry of goals as Monterrey and Club Tijuana battled to a thrilling 2-2 draw in the fourth round of the Torneo Clausura 2025-26. With both teams eager to shake off inconsistent starts to the season, the clash was always going to be a high-octane affair—and it didn’t disappoint the 51,348 spectators who packed the stadium, nor the thousands more glued to their screens across Mexico and the United States.

From the opening whistle, it was clear that neither side was content to sit back. Monterrey, known for their attacking flair, pressed forward with intent, while Xolos of Tijuana looked to capitalize on quick transitions and set pieces. The stakes were high: both clubs needed a win to climb the standings and assert themselves among the league’s early contenders.

The action started at a breakneck pace, and it didn’t take long for the scoreboard to light up. In a moment of misfortune for Monterrey, Alonso Aceves inadvertently put the ball into his own net after a dangerous header from Adonis Preciado, giving Tijuana an early lead. The goal, though not the prettiest, set the tone for a match filled with twists and turns.

But Monterrey aren’t a team to wilt under pressure, especially at home. They responded with wave after wave of attacks, and their persistence paid off in the 26th minute. Sergio Canales, ever the orchestrator in midfield, finished off a slick move with a perfectly placed shot after receiving a sharp assist from Oliver Torres. The home crowd erupted as Canales’ strike leveled the score at 1-1, and the Rayados looked poised to seize control.

The first half continued with both teams trading blows—Lucas Ocampos and Luca Orellano for Monterrey, and Iván Tona and Kevin Castañeda for Tijuana, each testing the opposing defenses. Both goalkeepers, Luis Cárdenas for Monterrey and José Rodríguez for Tijuana, were called into action on several occasions, making crucial saves to keep their teams in the hunt.

As halftime approached, the intensity didn’t let up. Referee discipline was tested, with Lucas Ocampos and Ricardo Chávez both receiving yellow cards for dangerous play. The physicality and urgency on display were a testament to what was at stake for both clubs.

After the break, the match picked up right where it left off. Tijuana came out with renewed purpose, and in the 61st minute, they were rewarded. After Adonis Preciado was brought down in the box, Kevin Castañeda stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, putting Xolos back in front at 2-1. The visiting bench erupted, sensing a valuable away win was within reach.

Monterrey, however, refused to be rattled. Managerial adjustments saw fresh legs enter the fray, with substitutions designed to ramp up the attacking pressure. The Rayados pressed relentlessly, winning corners and forcing the Xolos defense into desperate clearances. The tension in the stadium was palpable as the minutes ticked away.

Then, in the 79th minute, came a moment that will be replayed in Monterrey highlight reels for weeks to come. Off a corner, Luca Orellano—making his debut—latched onto a loose ball at the edge of the area and unleashed a rocket of a shot into the net. The crowd went wild as Monterrey drew level at 2-2, and Orellano’s teammates mobbed him in celebration. As TUDN MEX captured in their post-match coverage, “What a goal! Orellano’s debut strike was a thing of beauty.”

The closing moments were nothing short of frantic. Tijuana nearly snatched victory when Unai Bilbao’s header whistled just wide of the post, and Monterrey’s Sergio Canales saw his late effort saved by Rodríguez. Both teams pushed forward with every ounce of energy they had left, but the defenses—anchored by Ricardo Chávez and Gerardo Arteaga for Monterrey, and Pablo Ortíz and Jackson Porozo for Tijuana—held firm.

By the time the fourth official signaled six minutes of stoppage time, fans were on the edge of their seats. Substitutions continued, with Domingo Blanco coming on for Ignacio Rivero for Tijuana, and Monterrey introducing Stefan Medina and Lucas Ocampos to bolster their lines. Each side had half-chances in the dying moments, but ultimately, the final whistle confirmed the 2-2 stalemate.

The match statistics painted a picture of a contest that could have gone either way. Monterrey’s offensive output was matched by Tijuana’s resilience and counterattacks. Both teams finished with a flurry of shots—some on target, others narrowly missing the frame. The yellow cards and fouls underscored just how fiercely contested every ball was in midfield and defense.

Looking at the broader context, this result fits a recent pattern between Monterrey and Tijuana. In their last five meetings, draws and narrow victories have been the norm, reflecting a rivalry that’s as unpredictable as it is entertaining. The previous encounters—Tijuana 2-2 Monterrey (October 2025), Monterrey 1-2 Tijuana (March 2025), and Tijuana 2-2 Monterrey (August 2024)—all hint at the fine margins separating these sides.

For fans and pundits, the post-match analysis quickly turned to what this result means for each team’s aspirations. Monterrey, tipped by many betting models and oddsmakers as the favorites (with a 64.3% win probability according to Dimers’ advanced simulation), will be disappointed not to have secured all three points at home. Yet, the character shown in twice coming from behind, and the emergence of Orellano as a new attacking threat, offer reasons for optimism.

Tijuana, meanwhile, will rue the missed opportunity to claim a rare away victory but can take heart from their disciplined performance and the clinical finishing of Kevin Castañeda. Their defensive unit, particularly Iván Tona and Pablo Ortíz, stood tall in the face of relentless pressure.

The fixture was widely accessible to fans, broadcast live on Canal 5 and TUDN in Mexico, Univision and TUDN in the United States, and streamed via VIX Premium and YouTube. This broad coverage ensured that supporters everywhere could witness every twist and turn as it happened.

With the draw, both Monterrey and Tijuana remain in the thick of the Liga MX playoff hunt. Monterrey will look to build on this performance when they host América next week, while Tijuana prepares for a home clash against Puebla. If this match was any indication, both teams will be worth watching as the Clausura 2026 unfolds. For now, fans can savor a contest that delivered on its promise: intensity, drama, and a reminder that in Liga MX, anything can happen on any given night.