Saturday night in Mexico City’s Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes brought a Liga MX clash that had fans buzzing even before kickoff. América, fresh off their first win of the campaign, welcomed Rayados de Monterrey for Jornada 5 of the Clausura 2026, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. With both sides eyeing the top of the table and new signings waiting in the wings, the match promised fireworks—even if, in the end, it was a solitary spark that made the difference.
As the clock struck 21:00 local time on February 7, 2026, the stadium pulsed with anticipation. América, buoyed by a recent victory over Necaxa and the possibility of debuting Brazilian midfielder Raphael Veiga, looked to continue their climb. Monterrey, meanwhile, entered the evening seventh in the standings, boasting two wins, a draw, and a single defeat, and fans were eager to see if their own new signing Djuka would make an impact.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a goal-fest. The first half saw both teams probing cautiously, with América showing more intent but struggling to break down a disciplined Monterrey defense. The match lacked rhythm, and clear-cut chances were at a premium. Yet, the tension was palpable—after all, these were two squads built to challenge for silverware, not settle for stalemates.
América’s lineup, anchored by goalkeeper Luis Malagón and a back line featuring Sebastián Cáceres, Israel Reyes, Cristian Borja, and Kevin Álvarez, looked solid. The midfield trio of Rodrigo Dourado, Jonathan Dos Santos, and Erick Sánchez provided stability, while the attacking threat came from Alejandro Zendejas, Brian Rodríguez, and the returning Henry Martín. Monterrey countered with Luis Cárdenas in goal and a defense marshaled by Ricardo Chávez, Daniel Aceves, Gerardo Arteaga, and John Medina. In midfield, Fidel Ambriz, Oliver Torres, Sergio Canales, and Jorge Rodríguez sought to control the tempo, with Lucas Ocampo and Uros Durdevic up front.
One of the night’s biggest talking points was the return of Israel Reyes to América’s starting eleven. Having missed recent matches due to a muscular injury picked up on international duty, Reyes slotted right back into the heart of defense. His presence was felt immediately, helping the Águilas maintain a clean sheet and stifle Monterrey’s attacking forays. According to ESPN, “Israel Reyes returned to activity and started against Rayados. The defender fulfilled his role and helped keep América’s goal unbreached.”
Another notable comeback was that of club captain Henry Martín. After a string of injuries kept him sidelined since the previous tournament, Martín was back in the starting lineup, logging 70 minutes and building match fitness as América’s spearhead. His return, coupled with the arrival of Brazilian reinforcements, has América fans dreaming of a return to their championship-winning form.
But if there was a hero on the night, it was undoubtedly Alejandro Zendejas. Wearing the number 10 shirt, Zendejas was a constant threat, orchestrating attacks and keeping Monterrey’s defense on its toes. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 64th minute. Zendejas found himself in space on the edge of the box and unleashed a curling effort that left Cárdenas with no chance. The stadium erupted as América took a deserved 1-0 lead. “Alejandro Zendejas remains a key piece in André Jardine’s system. The number 10 is the reference point in attack, dictating the tempo, and capped his performance with a goal,” reported ESPN.
Yet, the night wasn’t all smiles for Zendejas. Just minutes after his decisive strike, he pulled up with a muscular complaint and signaled for a substitution, leaving the pitch with about 15 minutes remaining. It was a cruel twist for a player who had only just returned from a long layoff—his last appearance dating back to November. The América medical team will be hoping the injury isn’t serious, especially with a packed schedule ahead.
Monterrey, for their part, struggled to find a rhythm. Despite a squad packed with talent, Rayados once again fell short of expectations, unable to break down América’s organized defense or string together meaningful attacks. The lack of cohesion has been a recurring theme for Monterrey, and coach Fernando Ortiz will be searching for answers as his side slips to ninth in the standings, now on seven points.
The final whistle confirmed América’s 1-0 victory, a result that not only secured their third consecutive win but also propelled them to eighth in the table with eight points. While the scoreline was narrow, the performance was convincing—especially in the second half, where América’s superiority was finally reflected on the scoreboard. If they’d been more clinical, the margin could have been greater.
Looking ahead, the fixture list offers no respite. América now turns its attention to the Concacaf Champions Cup, where they’ll face Olimpia of Honduras at home on February 11. With a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, the Águilas have a golden opportunity to advance to the next round. Then comes the much-anticipated Clásico Nacional against Chivas on February 14 at Estadio Akron in Zapopan—a rivalry that needs no introduction. Matches against Puebla, Tigres, and Juárez round out a busy February and early March.
For Monterrey, the focus shifts to international competition as they prepare to host Xelajú of Guatemala in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Victory there would see them progress to the next phase, but first, the team must regroup and address the recurring issues that have hampered their domestic campaign.
Betting markets had América as slight favorites going into this encounter, and they lived up to the billing, if only just. The odds had América at -118 to win, a draw at +255, and a Monterrey victory at +320. In the end, the bookmakers got it right, but it was the quality of Zendejas and the resilience of América’s defense that made the difference.
As the dust settles on Jornada 5, América’s faithful will be encouraged by the team’s upward trajectory and the return of key players. With a critical stretch of fixtures ahead, including the Clásico Nacional, there’s a sense that the Águilas are finding their wings at just the right time. Monterrey, meanwhile, faces some soul-searching but has the talent to turn things around—if they can find the missing spark.
For now, it’s América who celebrates, their fans savoring a hard-fought win and dreaming of greater triumphs in the weeks to come.