Rayados de Monterrey has faced a challenging beginning to the 2026 Open season, with head coach Matías Almeyda's team struggling to secure a spot in the top tier of competition. Goalkeeper Esteban Andrada attributed the team's underwhelming performance to various factors.
Argentine goalkeeper Esteban Andrada believes the team's focus was on excelling in the Leagues Cup, ahead of the domestic tournament. The team ultimately reached the Leagues Cup final but suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Toluca's Red Devils.
The team's participation in the Leagues Cup was cited as the reason for their absence from the tournament, with a notable observation that their focus on the Leagues Cup competitions led to a neglect of the championship, a trend that was evident in several matches.
Monterrey's goalkeeper Esteban Andrada acknowledged that the team's focus on the Leagues Cup came at the expense of their MX League performance, ultimately resulting in their defeat.
Monterrey's Rayados concluded the Leagues Cup with a record of two wins and one loss, both prior to and during the tournament.
Monterrey secured a crucial 2-1 win over Pachuca's Tuzos in a decisive match, ultimately claiming the final classification spot with goals from Diego Rossi and Jesús Manuel Corona.
The team has now reached the Liguilla stage, a long-sought goal. Previous focus was diverted to the Leagues Cup, which unfortunately resulted in a close but ultimately unsuccessful outcome. The team's objective is to secure a top position and qualify for competition.
Rayados de Monterrey secured a significant win, moving them to seventh place in the 2026 Open standings. Under the guidance of Matías Almeyda, the team has accumulated 20 points throughout the season, narrowing the gap to second place by just three units. The current standings remain closely contested.
