Club America returns to Liga MX action Saturday night at the Estadio Banorte with something to prove. A 2-0 friendly loss to Chivas de Guadalajara in Oakland on October 4 left Guillermo Almada still searching for his first clásico win as America coach, and now Monterrey arrives for a Jornada 11 clash loaded with recent history. Rayados knocked America out of the Leagues Cup semifinals on penalties just five weeks ago, and the rematch lands with both clubs chasing very different prizes in the Apertura 2026 table.
An America response is overdue
The October 4 friendly in Oakland was a night to forget for the Azulcremas. Ángel Sepúlveda struck twice in the first 22 minutes, first from the penalty spot in the 14th minute after Alejandro Zendejas handled in the box, then with a header off a Fernando González cross, in front of more than 60,000 fans at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Luis Ángel Malagón started in goal and could do nothing about either finish.
The defeat extended an uncomfortable personal stat for Almada: two draws and two losses in four clásicos against Chivas and Cruz Azul since taking over, with no win yet. Saturday is a league match, not an exhibition, but the demand from the stands will be the same. Respond.
The Leagues Cup semifinal still stings
September 2 in Carson, California, is fresh in everyone’s memory. America and Monterrey played to a 2-2 draw in the Leagues Cup semifinal, with Diego Rossi opening the scoring for Rayados before Ramón Juárez and Alan Cervantes turned it around for America. The equalizer came from a penalty converted by Lucas Ocampos in the 67th minute, a call on Orbelín Pineda that stood after VAR review and that America’s players and supporters protested as simulation.
Monterrey won the shootout 5-4. Cervantes missed for America and Hugo Cuypers converted the decisive kick to send Rayados to the final, where they fell 2-0 to Toluca. This is the first league meeting between the sides since that night, and the controversy around the penalty gives the rematch a genuine edge.
The table math rewards the brave
America sits second in the Apertura 2026 table after Jornada 10 with 20 points from nine matches, level with leaders Toluca, who stay top on goals scored having played a game more. A win on Saturday keeps America pace for pace at the summit, and they still hold a game in hand with the postponed Jornada 7 match against Tijuana scheduled for October 28.
Monterrey’s arithmetic is more urgent. Rayados are 10th with 13 points from nine matches, below the top-eight line in the published tables. A victory at the Banorte would lift them to 16 points and potentially into playoff qualification territory. Like America, they also have a postponed Jornada 7 fixture in reserve, against Queretaro. Both clubs have something concrete to play for beyond pride.
Goals at both ends of the form guide
America’s last five league matches read 3W-1D-1L with 13 goals scored, and the attack is humming. Henry Martín’s hat-trick, including two penalties, powered a 4-2 comeback win at Necaxa on September 27 that put him in the scoring-title conversation. Miguel Borja has scored in three consecutive weeks, with a brace in the 2-2 draw against Chivas on September 19 followed by another goal at Necaxa.
Monterrey’s recent league form is the mirror image: 1W-1D-3L with four scored and nine conceded, including a 4-2 defeat to Atlante on September 25. But Rayados showed life during the break, coming from behind to beat Toluca 2-1 in a Houston friendly on October 3, with Cuypers and Rossi striking in the 83rd and 88th minutes. The touchline confrontation between Matías Almeyda and Antonio Mohamed suggested neither side treated it as a kickabout.
Subplots everywhere you look
Both squads welcome back players from Rafael Márquez’s first window in charge of El Tri: Israel Reyes and Isaías Violante return for America, while Víctor Guzmán and Orbelín Pineda rejoin Monterrey after missing the Atlante defeat.
One absence to watch is Alan Cervantes, who withdrew from national team duty on September 21 with a muscle issue and whose availability for Saturday remains unconfirmed. On the touchlines, Almada and Almeyda renew acquaintances in a duel between two coaches who demand intensity from their sides.
For Club America’s full season schedule and U.S. viewing options, bookmark our Where to Watch Club America in the USA guide.
