Club de Fútbol Monterrey ended a four-year home winless streak against Cruz Azul with a 1-0 victory in Matchday 9 of the Apertura 2026. The win at Estadio BBVA delivers three key points, solidifying Rayados in eighth place in the Liga MX table with 13 points.
César Garza was the match-winner, scoring the only goal in the 7th minute. The forward said he "took advantage of a mistake by Cruz Azul's defense to send the ball into the back of the net." The play originated from a pass by Jesús Corona that the Cementero backline failed to clear.
Cruz Azul responded quickly and Gabriel Fernández had a clear chance to equalise just three minutes later. Goalkeeper Esteban Andrada came up with a vital save to preserve the lead. Andrada was decisive again in the 67th minute, stopping a shot from Luka Romero. Those interventions proved key to seeing out the result.
Significance of the win
The victory not only breaks a historically poor run at home against a direct rival but also helps restore confidence after an inconsistent start to the season. With this result, Monterrey improves its record to four wins, one draw, and three losses from eight matches. The team has scored 14 goals and conceded 10, for a positive goal difference of four.
The league picture shows Rayados are six points behind leaders Toluca but now have a game in hand. This win comes after a five-match winless run in the league where the team picked up only two points.
What's next for Rayados
Fernando Ortiz's side now turns its attention to the next away fixture. The visit to 14th-placed Atlante FC is scheduled for September 26. Another victory would be essential to continue climbing the table and close in on the playoff spots. All details on upcoming matches are on our fixtures page.
With L. Ocampos as the team's top scorer this season with five goals, Monterrey's attack is searching for more consistency. The defensive solidity shown against La Máquina, with Andrada as a standout, provides a good foundation for the final stretch of the regular phase.
Background and full detail: Record MX
The club confirmed that César Garza received a yellow card in the 58th minute for dissent, according to the official match data. The midfielder was cautioned following a scuffle with Gabriel Fernández, who was also booked. The official statistics show Monterrey had 47% possession to Cruz Azul's 53%, but generated 17 total shots, five on target. The team maintains eighth place with 13 points after Saturday's win.
