Cruz Azul beat Leon 2-1 at Estadio Banorte on Sunday, November 1, 2026, in Jornada 15 of the Liga MX Apertura 2026, with Andrés Montaño scoring a penalty and José Paradela adding the second goal after halftime.
The win takes Cruz Azul to 29 points and third place. It also clinches a direct place in the Liguilla quarterfinals with two matchdays left.
Result: Cruz Azul 2-1 Leon
Goals: Cruz Azul: Andrés Montaño 56′ (pen.), José Paradela 72′. Leon: Alfonso Alvarado 90+10′ (pen.).
Competition: Liga MX Apertura 2026, Jornada 15
Venue: Estadio Banorte
Cruz Azul vs Leon Match Recap
The first half finished 0-0. Neither team scored before the break, and the match stayed level into the second half.
Kevin Mier kept the score level in the 51st minute. He saved an effort from Ismael Díaz after Leon created an early second half chance.
The opening goal came from a penalty. Rodrigo Echeverría fouled Carlos Rodríguez in the area in the 53rd minute, and the penalty was awarded after a VAR review.
Andrés Montaño converted the penalty in the 56th minute. His low left-footed effort went in by the left post and put Cruz Azul 1-0 ahead.
Joel Huiqui made two changes soon after the goal. José Paradela replaced Montano in the 61st minute, and Nicolás Ibáñez replaced Gabriel Fernández in the 62nd minute.
Leon also changed their attack in the 61st minute. Díber Cambindo replaced Édgar Guerra, and Juan Domínguez replaced José Rodríguez.
Paradela made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute. Ibanez assisted with a header, and Paradela scored with a left-footed shot from outside the area.
Carlos Rotondi and Luka Romero had entered for Cruz Azul in the 70th minute. They replaced Omar Campos and Agustín Palavecino.
Leon used their last changes in the 75th minute. Isaac Espinosa replaced Diaz, and Fernando Beltrán replaced Daniel Arcila.
Leon scored in stoppage time. Alfonso Alvarado converted a penalty in the 90+10th minute, after a VAR decision awarded Leon a penalty, to make the score 2-1.
There were no red cards in the match. Cruz Azul received four yellow cards, and Leon received five.
Cruz Azul arrived after a 3-1 win at Queretaro in Jornada 14. Leon arrived after a 1-1 draw with Toluca.
Match Stats
| Statistic | Cruz Azul | Leon |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 54% | 46% |
| Shots | 15 | 13 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 5 |
| Corners | 4 | 6 |
| Saves | 4 | 3 |
Source: Sportradar match data.
Starting Lineups
Cruz Azul: Kevin Mier; Rogelio González, Amaury García, Gonzalo Piovi, Jesús Orozco, Omar Campos; Agustín Palavecino, Érik Lira, Andrés Montaño, Carlos Rodríguez; Gabriel Fernández.
Leon: Óscar García; Iván Moreno, Jhohan Romaña, Juan Guevara, Christopher Mora; Rodrigo Echeverría, José Rodríguez, Daniel Arcila; Édgar Guerra, Alfonso Alvarado, Ismael Díaz.
Three Takeaways From Cruz Azul vs Leon
1. Cruz Azul Clinch a Direct Liguilla Place on 29 Points
Cruz Azul finish Jornada 15 in third place on 29 points from 15 matches. Their record is nine wins, two draws and four defeats.
They are level on 29 points with Club America and Chivas de Guadalajara. America lead on goal difference at plus 15, Chivas de Guadalajara are second at plus 11, and Cruz Azul are third at plus 10.
Only six other clubs can still reach 29 points or more. Cruz Azul therefore cannot finish below seventh, and a top eight place is secured.
2. Paradela Returns and Scores the Winning Goal
Paradela returned after a muscle problem that had kept him out of four matches. He entered in the 61st minute, in place of Montano.
Eleven minutes later he scored the second goal. Fellow substitute Ibanez provided the assist with a header, one minute after also entering the match.
The goal proved decisive. Alvarado’s late penalty cut the lead to one goal, but Leon had no time left to find an equalizer.
3. Leon Stay Seventh, With the Cutoff Still Close
Leon stay on 22 points from 15 matches. Their record is six wins, four draws and five defeats, with 22 goals scored and 20 conceded.
They are seventh, level on 22 points with Tijuana and Santos Laguna. Tijuana are sixth on goal difference, Leon are seventh, and Santos Laguna are eighth.
Monterrey are ninth on 21 points and have played one match fewer. Leon remain inside the top eight, but their place is not yet secure.
What the Result Means
Cruz Azul move from 26 points to 29 points. This was their fourth straight league win, and they are now six league matches without defeat.
Apertura 2026 has no Play-In. Only the top eight advance directly to the Liguilla quarterfinals, and Cruz Azul have now secured one of those places.
Their final position is still open. First place remains possible, because they are level on points with the two clubs above them.
Leon remain seventh on 22 points. They are inside the direct qualification places as Jornada 15 ends, with two matchdays left to defend that position.
Leon are not yet qualified, and they are not eliminated. Their remaining matches against Chivas de Guadalajara and Santos Laguna will decide their final place.
See the Cruz Azul viewing guide for how to watch their remaining matches in the United States.
Watch: Cruz Azul vs Leon Highlights
Watch the official highlights from TUDN USA below.
What Comes Next
Cruz Azul visit Tigres UANL in Jornada 16 on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Kickoff at Estadio Universitario is 17:00 Mexico Central time (17:00 CT, 18:00 ET).
Leon host Chivas de Guadalajara in Jornada 16 on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Kickoff at Estadio Leon is 20:00 Mexico Central time (20:00 CT, 21:00 ET).
See the Liga MX viewing hub and the Liga MX schedule page for viewing information on both matches.
