Santos Laguna finally broke their lengthy winless streak with a decisive 2-0 victory over Atlas during the eighth matchday of the Liga MX's Clausura 2025 tournament, held at the Estadio TSM Corona on February 23, 2025. This significant win marked Santos' first victory of the season, lifting them off the bottom of the league standings and igniting hope among their fans.
The match started with visible tension, as Santos faced off against Atlas, who had also been struggling. The importance of this game was palpable; both teams needed points, but Santos was particularly desperate to end their 16-game winless run, the longest active streak without a victory in the league.
Under the guidance of head coach Fernando "Tano" Ortiz, Santos Laguna aimed to establish dominance early on. The breakthrough came at the 19-minute mark when Bruno Barticciotto, the night’s standout player, executed a perfectly timed header from a corner kick taken by José Abella. This initial goal ignited the home crowd, giving Santos the momentum they needed.
Despite starting the match strong, Atlas quickly fell behind after conceding the set-piece goal. They attempted to retaliate, generating several chances but failed to find the back of the net due to Santos' solid defensive posture and impressive saves from goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo, whose key interventions helped preserve the clean sheet.
Bruno Barticciotto continued to be influential throughout the game. Although Santos’ second goal, scored just before halftime, was ruled out after VAR intervention for offside, Barticciotto’s contributions remained pivotal. He repeatedly tested Atlas’ goalkeeper, Camilo Vargas, demonstrating the attacking flair Santos desperately needed.
The second half saw Atlas pushing for equality, but Santos remained resolute. Atlas missed golden opportunities, including one by Victor Ríos, who shot over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat. The turning point came late in the game when Santos countered effectively, leading to Barticciotto scoring his second goal of the night at the 81st minute. This time, after receiving the ball from Aldo López, Barticciotto fired a stunning shot from just outside the area, sealing the victory for Santos and solidifying his place as the hero of the match.
This win not only ended Santos Laguna's winless run but also marked the first victory for “Tano” Ortiz as head coach, bringing the team’s point total to four and moving them above teams like Tijuana and Atlético San Luis, who now sit at the bottom of the standings.
Fans rejoiced as the weight of their prolonged losing streak was lifted. Santos can now look forward with renewed hope, eyeing their upcoming match against Rayados de Monterrey. Meanwhile, Atlas faces questions as they sit just above Santos on the table, sporting only seven points and seeking to rectify their situation heading forward.
With this match concluded, Bruno Barticciotto emerges as not just the match-winner but potentially the catalyst for a turnaround for Santos Laguna, as they hope to build on this newfound momentum.