Club de Fútbol Monterrey secured a 3-2 victory over Santos in a Liga MX match on July 18, 2026. The win was built on a quick double from Lucas Ocampos and a goal from Jesús Corona, though the opponent pulled back two consolation goals.
As reported by espndeportes.espn.com, Ocampos opened the scoring in the 20th minute and extended the lead just five minutes later, in the 25th. The third goal came at the 31-minute mark from Jesús Corona, known as 'Tecatito'. The scoreline dominance wasn't fully reflected in the underlying play, as xG data favored Santos with 2.28 compared to 1.87 for the home side.
How did Monterrey's possession dominance play out?
Monterrey controlled the ball with 56% possession, completing 448 passes with an 86% accuracy rate. In contrast, Santos managed 44% of the ball and completed 333 passes with 82% accuracy. This superiority in circulation translated into a higher volume of clear chances, with 13 shots on target from their 19 total attempts. That represents 68% of their shots directed on goal. Santos, meanwhile, only put three of their 11 shots on target.
The Santos goalkeeper had a very busy night, making 10 saves to prevent a heavier defeat. His Monterrey counterpart, however, was barely required to make a single stop. Despite the difference in possession and shots, both teams created two big chances each and won the same number of corners, five.
What is the team's context in the current season?
This win is part of the team's recent history, as they currently sit in ninth place in the Liga MX standings. They have accumulated 9 points from six matches, with a record of three wins and three losses. Their recent form over the last five outings is three wins and two defeats, though they have lost their last two fixtures, including a 1-3 loss to Atlético San Luis on August 31.
On the attacking front, the team has scored 13 goals and conceded 10, giving them a +3 goal difference. In the title race, they are seven points behind the leaders, Club América. The next challenge will be an away trip to Club Querétaro, who are sixth in the table, on September 5. Fans can follow the schedule on our fixtures page.
What did the match statistics show?
The match was intense physically. Monterrey committed 14 fouls, while Santos was the offender on nine occasions. In individual duels, it was the visiting team that showed more aggression, winning 55 challenges against 45 from the Rayados. The consolation goals for Santos came in the 40th minute from Lucas Di Yorio and in stoppage time, specifically at 90 minutes and 6 seconds, from Eduardo Aguirre. This late goal created tension in the final minutes, but Monterrey managed the result well.
The victory underscores the need to find consistency to climb the table. With the current squad, the objective will be to put together consecutive positive results. The match against Querétaro will be a key test to end the negative run of two straight losses and start closing the gap with the frontrunners in the competition.
