Renato Paiva returned to the Estadio Nemesio Díez as a rival and left with a dramatic victory. His Santos Laguna side defeated Toluca 2-3 this Sunday with a stoppage-time goal, handing the Liga MX leaders their first defeat in five matches.
The Portuguese manager coached Toluca from December 2023 until December 2024, when he was dismissed following a quarterfinal aggregate loss to América in the Apertura. This Saturday, from the visiting bench, he celebrated a comeback that temporarily halts the relentless march of the Diablos Rojos, who still hold top spot with 19 points, one clear of Chivas.
After the match, Paiva was full of praise for the project that succeeded him at the club. "I am happy to see the titles they win," said the 56-year-old tactician. "Men like Francisco Suinaga and Santiago San Román, what they have built here is worthy of tipping your hat and it is truly an extraordinary job."
A legacy of success
Under the guidance of Antonio 'Turco' Mohamed, Toluca won the Concachampions, Campeón de Campeones, and Leagues Cup in the Clausura 2025, achieving the historic continental treble that made the club the only North American team to win all available tournaments. This success contrasts with the end of Paiva's tenure, marked by that heavy aggregate defeat to América.
The loss to Santos, however, does not tarnish the team's strong league form. With 20 goals scored and only 9 conceded, Toluca displays an attacking solidity led by top scorer Facundo Viñas with four goals. The response will be immediate, as the next fixture is a visit to fourth-placed Cruz Azul next Saturday, September 26.
For Paiva, the win at the Nemesio Díez is a personal turning point, but his words acknowledge that the project he left behind has reached heights he could not. Meanwhile, Mohamed's Toluca is already thinking about Cruz Azul, aware that their lead in the league standings is slender and any stumble could prove costly.
Read the full report at MARCA
