Introduction
A third of the teams participating in Liga MX started the new Apertura 2025 season with victories following the first round of matches played from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 13.
Defending Champions Toluca Secure a Comfortable Win
The reigning champions, Toluca, were part of this select group as they defeated Necaxa 3-1 in front of 20,273 spectators, which accounted for 74% of the stadium’s total capacity at Nemesio Diez. The goals were scored by Marcel Ruiz, Jesús ‘Canelo’ Angulo, and Helinho.
“The team has a way and a style of playing, it continues to respect that, and most importantly, maintains the desire to win. That is fundamental,” said Toluca’s head coach, Antonio Mohamed, after this victory.
Context on Toluca’s Recent Success
It has been 48 days since Toluca’s last match in Liga MX, a victory in the Clausura 2025 final against América at Nemesio Diez, breaking a 15-year title drought in the Mexican league.
Coach Antonio Mohamed, also known as ‘El Turco,’ started three players from the Mexican National Team who had just won the Gold Cup a few days prior: Alexis Vega, Jesús Gallardo, and Marcel Ruiz. There have been rumors that Ruiz is being scouted by European clubs.
“I don’t know, honestly I don’t get involved in those things; I leave it to my agent. I focus on playing and giving my best to my team. I am happy here; Toluca is my home,” Ruiz commented regarding the speculation about his future.
Other Winning Teams
Alongside Toluca, Pachuca, Santos, Atlas, Tijuana, and Atlético de San Luis also began the new season with victories.
Pachuca and Santos notably defeated Monterrey and Pumas 3-0, placing them provisionally at the top of the general table.
Pachuca vs. Monterrey: A Tale of Two Halves
The match at Hidalgo Stadium between Pachuca and Monterrey was noteworthy as both teams had recently participated in the Club World Cup in the United States over the summer, albeit with contrasting performances. Pachuca lost all three matches and were eliminated in the group stage, while Monterrey advanced to the round of 16.
However, in their return to the domestic league, Pachuca under coach Javier ‘Jimmy’ Lozano dominated Monterrey, managed by Domenec Torrent. The goals came from Jhonder Cadiz, a new signing from León, and homegrown players Alexei Dominguez and Elías Montiel.
“We won’t seek excuses regarding the Club World Cup or fatigue: Pachuca was superior to us. Perhaps the first half was more even, but they played better. They showed more ambition and punished us with two goals in ten minutes. I won’t look for any excuses about missing players,” Torrent said after the defeat.
Pumas Suffer Heavy Defeat at the Hands of Santos
Pumas experienced a demoralizing loss against Santos, which was surprising since Santos had been the worst team in the previous tournament.
Pumas’ coach, Efrain Juarez, gave playing time to four players aged 20 or younger. The most notable was 17-year-old goalkeeper Rodrigo Parra, who made a clear mistake early in the second half that led to Santos’ 2-0 lead.
The rest of the wins included Atlas defeating Puebla 3-2 as visitors, Tijuana winning 1-0 against Queretaro at home, and Atlético de San Luis triumphing 1-0 over León away.
Notable Results
Cruz Azul and América also failed to secure victories, drawing 0-0 against Mazatlán and 1-1 with Juarez, respectively. Cruz Azul made its official debut under new coach Nicolás Larcamón in Cu but couldn’t surpass the zero, while América’s lead was squandered when Rodolfo Pizarro scored in the 80th minute.
The only match from Jornada 1 of Apertura 2025 not played this weekend was Chivas vs. Tigres due to stadium adjustments at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara. It has been rescheduled for September 17.
Teams Victorious in Jornada 1 of Liga MX Apertura 2025
- Pachuca 3-0 Monterrey (in Pachuca)
- Santos 3-0 Pumas (in Torreón)
- Toluca 3-1 Necaxa (in Toluca)
- Atlas 3-2 Puebla (in Puebla)
- Atlético de San Luis 1-0 León (in León)
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who are the teams that started the Apertura 2025 season with wins? A: Pachuca, Santos, Atlas, Tijuana, Atlético de San Luis, and Toluca all secured victories in the opening round of matches.
- Q: What notable performances were seen in the Jornada 1 matches? A: Pachuca dominated Monterrey 3-0, Santos thrashed Pumas 3-0, Atlas narrowly won against Puebla 3-2, Tijuana defeated Queretaro 1-0 at home, and Atlético de San Luis overcame León 1-0 away.
- Q: How did Toluca, the defending champions, perform in their opening match? A: Toluca comfortably defeated Necaxa 3-1, with goals from Marcel Ruiz, Jesús ‘Canelo’ Angulo, and Helinho.
- Q: What challenges did Monterrey face in their match against Pachuca? A: Despite both teams having recently participated in the Club World Cup, Pachuca showed superior form and ambition, ultimately winning 3-0.
- Q: What happened to Pumas in their match against Santos? A: Pumas suffered a heavy 0-3 defeat to Santos, with the latter fielding four young players, including a 17-year-old goalkeeper who made a notable error.
