This Saturday, February 1, the Rayados de Monterrey will host the Rayos del Necaxa at the Estadio BBVA as part of the fifth round of the 2025 Clausura Liga MX. The Monterrey team seeks their first victory of the tournament, whereas Necaxa aims to collect points to secure their place at the top of the table.
Coming off four matches, Monterrey has faced a challenging start to the tournament, with no wins to show. Despite managing three draws and one loss, coach Fernando Ortiz's squad urgently needs to find their rhythm to avoid falling behind. The team's star players, including Sergio Canales, Germán Berterame, and Maxi Meza, have struggled to convert goal-scoring opportunities, raising concerns among fans. Their upcoming clash with Necaxa could be pivotal to reversing their fortunes.
On the other hand, Necaxa enters the match with markedly improved performance under Nicolás Larcamón. The team boasts two wins, one draw, and one loss, showcasing a dynamic style of play characterized by good organization. Key players like Diber Cambindo and Heriberto Jurado have shined, enhancing the team’s attacking strategy. Their solid defensive setup has added to their confidence as they prepare to take on Monterrey.
The lineups for the match are as follows: Monterrey will field Luis Cárdenas (GK), Érick Aguirre, Stefan Medina, Víctor Guzmán, Luis Reyes, Jorge Rodríguez, Fidel Ambriz, Nelson Deossa, Sergio Canales (C), Germán Berterame, and Jesús Corona, with Martín Demichelis as coach. Necaxa will feature Ezequiel Unsain (GK), Arturo Palma, Diego de Buen, Alexis Peña (C), Agustín Ontiveros, Alejandro Mayorga, Agustín Palavecino, José Iván Rodríguez, José Paradela, Ricardo Monreal, and Diber Cambindo, coached by Nicolás Larcamón.
The first half ended with the home team taking the lead thanks to Fidel Ambriz's goal. Diber Cambindo made attempts but was thwarted by Víctor Guzmán. Nelson Deossa's shot was deflected by goalkeeper Ezequiel Unsain, and Germán Berterame came close but missed before the halftime whistle.
At the break, Monterrey leads 1-0, needing to maintain the momentum to secure their first win of the season. The team has struggled this season having only scraped together three points and sitting at 13th place, raising pressure on their performance. Meanwhile, Necaxa, positioned 9th, will aim to bounce back after suffering defeat against Cruz Azul.
Broadcast options for the match include Canal 5 for open television, along with TUDN for cable, and online streaming available on the ViX platform. Fans are eager to see if Monterrey can finally celebrate victory at home, especially after losing the previous final against América. The historical record is favorable for Monterrey, who has won six consecutive matches against Necaxa, allowing only four goals.
With the stakes high and both teams facing different challenges, the match promises excitement and drama as they grapple for points. Will Monterrey finally turn their season around, or can Necaxa pull off the surprise against the struggling giants?