Toluca head into Matchday 10 of the Apertura 2026 as the outright leaders of Liga MX, holding 19 points. This Saturday, September 26, the Red Devils travel to the Estadio Banorte to face Cruz Azul, the team that beat them in the most recent Campeón de Campeones final.
Antonio Mohamed's side needs to bounce back from a 3-2 home defeat to Santos Laguna at the Nemesio Diez. That result halted their momentum, but the scarlet outfit maintains a potent attack that has scored 20 goals in the tournament so far. "The absences will force El Turco to rebuild several areas of the pitch, but Toluca still retains a good part of its offensive power," Mohamed said in the build-up. The team has also shown a solid defense, conceding only 10 goals, which contributes to their leading position.
International Break Absences
The match falls during a FIFA international window, depriving the manager of several key players. Jesús Gallardo and Everardo López are with the Mexican national team, Federico Viñas is with Uruguay, and Santiago Simón is with Argentina. This is compounded by the absence of Franco Romero, who is managing knee discomfort. These losses force adjustments, though the attacking core of Alexis Vega and Paulinho remains available.
Toluca's probable lineup would see Luis García in goal. The defense could feature Diego Barbosa, Bruno Méndez, Federico Pereira, and Brian García. The midfield would be formed by Edher Segova, Nicolás Castro, and Helinho, with Jesús Angulo and Alexis Vega on the wings, and Paulinho as the lone striker. This setup aims to balance defensive solidity with the offensive capability that has defined them.
With kickoff scheduled for 16:50 hours and broadcast on Canal 5, TUDN, and ViX, the task for the leaders is clear. A win in the capital would allow them to consolidate their position at the top before the international break. Following this match, Toluca, who currently sit second in the standings with 13 points, will next play away to CF Pachuca on November 21. This second-place position with 13 points reflects their consistency over the season, though the figure of 19 points corresponds to their current top spot.
Read the full report at Record MX
