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Reigning champions Cruz Azul visit a Monterrey side in crisis on Saturday, September 19, 2026, when they meet at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe for Jornada 9 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026. Kickoff is 7:10 PM local time. La Maquina sit fourth with 15 points and are chasing the bicampeonato, while Rayados are 12th with 10 points and a game in hand, three points below the top eight. Here we will cover the live stream and TV channel viewing options for the Monterrey vs Cruz Azul match.
How to Watch
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:10 PM local time in Monterrey, which is 8:10 PM Central, 9:10 PM Eastern, and 6:10 PM Pacific. In the United States, the match will be televised on Univision and TUDN, and it will stream on ViX Premium. For more on following Mexican soccer from the U.S., see our full guide to watching Liga MX in the USA.
The Monterrey vs Cruz Azul match will be broadcast at 8:10 PM CT:
TV Channel: Univision, TUDN (USA)
Online Live Stream: ViX Premium (USA)
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Recent Form
Monterrey have taken one point from the last nine available, and the pressure is building on Matias Almeyda. Their last five league games read W 2-0 at Atlas, W 6-1 vs FC Juarez, L 0-2 at Leon, L 1-3 vs Atletico de San Luis, and D 0-0 vs Tigres in last weekend’s Clasico Regio, with nine goals scored and six conceded. At Estadio BBVA they are 2-1-1 this season with ten goals scored and six allowed, while on the road they are 1-0-2. Almeyda made his mood clear after the derby: “No voy a festejar un empate” (“I will not celebrate a draw”).
Cruz Azul lost twice and then won three straight in the league: L 1-2 at Tijuana, L 0-2 vs Atlas, W 3-1 at Necaxa, W 1-0 vs Santos Laguna, and W 4-3 vs America in a wild Clasico Joven last weekend, with nine scored and eight conceded. Erik Lira, Jose Paradela, and Jesus Orozco built a 3-0 halftime lead against America, and Gabriel Fernandez made it 4-1 before two late goals made it nervy. On Wednesday the schedule bit back: La Maquina lost 2-0 to Inter Miami in the Campeones Cup final in Miami, with Lionel Messi and Casemiro scoring. On the road in the league they are 2-0-1, scoring seven and conceding five.
Team News
Almeyda will be without three starters. Diego Rossi misses out with muscular problems after sitting out several training sessions this week, Gerardo Arteaga is suspended following his red card at the end of the Clasico Regio, and Carlos Salcedo is sidelined by a muscle injury in his lower left leg. Alonso Aceves is doubtful with an ankle sprain and Omar Galvez is also out. The attack leans on Lucas Ocampos, whose five goals have him second in the scoring race, and Hugo Cuypers, who scored against San Luis.
Joel Huiqui is managing a tired squad after the Miami trip. Cristian Jimenez, Mateo Levy, and Amaury Morales remain out injured, but there was good news on two doubts: Omar Campos and Luka Romero are both expected to be available after their knocks in the Clasico Joven. Gonzalo Piovi could return to the starting lineup, and Gabriel “Toro” Fernandez could start after his goal against America. Kevin Mier was the hero of the Clasico Joven with seven saves, while Rodolfo Cota saved a Nicolas Ibanez penalty for Cruz Azul before halftime.
Storylines to Watch
Three threads will decide this one. First, the recent history is lopsided: Cruz Azul are unbeaten in the last six meetings in all competitions, with four wins and two draws, and they have won their last three visits to Estadio BBVA by a combined 9-2, including a 3-2 victory in the Champions Cup last March. Second, the schedule favors the hosts: Cruz Azul played a final in Miami on Wednesday night after travel chaos that left them in Florida barely 24 hours before kickoff, and now they cross back for a Saturday night game. Huiqui admitted “no fuimos el equipo que veniamos siendo” in Miami and vowed his team would respond. Third, the table pressure: the champions are chasing the bicampeonato from fourth place, while Monterrey sit three points below the top eight with a game in hand, and Almeyda’s “crisis” cannot afford another slip at home.
Prediction
FutnSoccer predicts a 2-1 win for Cruz Azul. The champions have won three straight at the BBVA and carry the hotter attack, but a depleted Monterrey at home with a week’s rest should keep this closer than the recent history suggests.
