Alejandro Zendejas needed three minutes to change Club América’s week. Back in the starting lineup for the first time since October 21, the winger headed in an Óscar Perea cross at the start of the Clásico Capitalino, scoring on his return in a 2-2 draw away to Pumas UNAM.
The goal did not deliver first place. América twice led and twice were pulled back, and Cruz Azul’s win at Tigres UANL moved the leaders two points clear with one round to play.
But the draw settled the question that had hung over Coapa all week. One of Guillermo Almada’s two starting wingers is fit again, and he announced it in the biggest game left on the calendar.
A Return Three Weeks in the Making
Zendejas had been out since suffering a knock against Atlas on October 21. He missed the matches against Pachuca, Tijuana and Toluca, and the club never issued a medical report on the injury.
The signals built through last week. He trained at the same pace as the rest of the group on Tuesday, and FutnSoccer tracked his expected return as the Clásico approached.
Almada started him on the right at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario, and the return took three minutes to pay off. Perea crossed from the left and Zendejas met it with a diving header past Keylor Navas.
The Other Wing Held Up Too
The assist matters almost as much as the goal. Perea is the player holding the left wing while Brian Rodríguez recovers, and his end product decided the opening goal of a Clásico.
Rodríguez is officially out. The club confirmed a muscle injury in his left biceps femoris, with his recovery set by his progress and no return date given.
Until that progress changes the picture, the pairing that finished the Clásico is the pairing América will take into the Liguilla: Zendejas on the right, Perea on the left, Henry Martín through the middle.
What It Means Now
Martín scored América’s second from the penalty spot, his 11th goal of the Apertura 2026, before Pumas equalized from a penalty of their own.
The draw leaves América second on 30 points, two behind Cruz Azul. The regular season closes on Saturday, November 21, away to Tigres UANL, and first place is still reachable if América win and Cruz Azul fail to beat Chivas de Guadalajara.
The international break comes first. Four América players are away with Mexico, and the rest of the squad gets two weeks to prepare for the game that decides the top seed.
For the kickoff time and U.S. viewing options for the Tigres UANL match, see where to watch Club América in the United States.
