Queretaro beat Atlante 2-0 on Saturday night at Estadio La Corregidora in Jornada 11 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026, climbing provisionally to third in the table, level on 20 points with Club America and Toluca. Santiago Homenchenko converted a 25th-minute penalty and Denilson Munoz doubled the lead five minutes after halftime as the Gallos Blancos extended their unbeaten run to five matches.
Result: Queretaro 2-0 Atlante
Goals: Santiago Homenchenko 25′ (pen.), Denilson Munoz 50′
Competition: Liga MX Apertura 2026, Jornada 11
Venue: Estadio La Corregidora, Santiago de Queretaro
Queretaro vs Atlante Match Recap
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute, when Mateo Coronel was fouled by Walter Portales inside the area. Homenchenko stepped up two minutes later and sent Oscar Jimenez the wrong way from the spot to give Queretaro a 1-0 lead at halftime.
The hosts doubled the advantage five minutes into the second half. Munoz finished a move created by Iker Benito in the 50th minute, and Queretaro protected the clean sheet for the remaining 40 minutes to complete a second consecutive 2-0 victory, following the Jornada 10 win at Chivas Guadalajara.
Atlante’s frustration showed before the break: Eugenio Pizzuto was booked in the 20th minute and Walter Clar followed in the 35th. Esteban Gonzalez refreshed his attack after the hour, sending on Bernardo Parra for goalscorer Munoz in the 64th minute, then Paulo Victor and Waldo Madrid for Iker Benito and Coronel in the 72nd. Parra was booked in the 84th minute, the only Queretaro caution of the night. Eduardo Perez replaced Ali Avila in the 86th minute as Queretaro closed out the win. Miguel Herrera answered with five Atlante changes: Edgar Jimenez replaced Clar in the 54th minute, Octavio Vazquez came on for Portales in the 68th, and Diogo Bagui, Joaquin Moxica and Christian Bermudez all entered in the 82nd.
Starting Lineups
Queretaro (coach: Esteban Gonzalez): Guillermo Allison; Iker Benito, Diego Reyes, Carlos Villanueva, Daniel Parra; Carlo Garcia, Santiago Homenchenko, Mateo Coronel, Enzo Gimenez; Denilson Munoz, Ali Avila.
Atlante (coach: Miguel Herrera): Oscar Jimenez; Walter Portales, Nicolas Carrera, Eduardo Tercero, Aaron Quiros; Walter Clar, Martin Sarrafiore, Eugenio Pizzuto, Luis Calzadilla; Luis Puente, Jhojan Julio.
Three Takeaways From Queretaro vs Atlante
1. Queretaro has the best defense in the Apertura
Eight goals conceded in 10 matches is the stingiest record in Liga MX, and this was the unit’s most timely statement yet. Atlante arrived in Queretaro two weeks after scoring four against Monterrey, and the Gallos Blancos kept them scoreless for 90 minutes. With Guillermo Allison protected by Diego Reyes and Carlos Villanueva, Queretaro has now conceded just once across its last three matches.
2. Third place, level on 20 points, with a game in hand
The table math is remarkable for a club that finished nowhere near the Liguilla race a year ago. Queretaro sits third on 20 points, behind Club America and Toluca only on goal difference, and holds a pending Jornada 7 match against Monterrey, rescheduled for November 14. Win that game in hand and the Gallos Blancos go top. The position is provisional with Atlas vs Chivas de Guadalajara and America vs Monterrey still to finish on Saturday night, but Queretaro has earned its place in the championship conversation.
3. Homenchenko keeps delivering the decisive moments
The Uruguayan midfielder was nerveless from the spot for the opener, continuing a scoring run that already included a brace in the 3-1 win at Atlas in Jornada 6. With Ali Avila and Mateo Coronel also on the scoresheet in recent weeks, Gonzalez has multiple finishers, but Homenchenko is the one converting the highest-leverage chances.
What the Result Means
Queretaro moves to third with 20 points from 10 matches (6 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses, plus-7 goal difference), unbeaten in five straight (4 wins, 1 draw) and now with two home wins at La Corregidora. In an Apertura 2026 without a Play-In, where only the top eight advance directly to the Liguilla quarterfinals, the Gallos Blancos have built a cushion inside the qualification zone with six matchdays remaining.
Atlante stays 15th with 11 points from 11 matches (2 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses), four points below the direct Liguilla places. The two-match unbeaten run that included the 4-2 win over Monterrey is over, and Miguel Herrera’s side must regroup quickly: the Potros de Hierro are running out of margin in the push for the top eight.
What Comes Next
Atlante returns home to face Pumas UNAM on Friday, October 16 (21:00 Mexico Central, 22:00 CT). Queretaro hits the road for two straight: first at Santos Laguna on Saturday, October 17 (17:00 Mexico Central, 18:00 CT) at Estadio TSM Corona, then at Atletico San Luis. For U.S. TV and streaming information for upcoming Liga MX matches, see our Liga MX viewing hub.
