Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Necaxa edged Atlético Morelia 1-0 in their first pre-season friendly of Apertura 2026 at Casa Club on 20 June.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
The match was structured as four 25-minute blocks — a common pre-season format used to maximise minutes for the full squad. Necaxa controlled large stretches of possession against a Morelia side that, according to local outlet El Sol de Morelia, was still integrating new signings and working on match fitness under the guidance of their coaching staff.
The decisive goal arrived in the first half of the contest. Necaxa capitalised on a defensive lapse from Morelia to slot home what proved to be the winner. The Rayos then managed the game effectively across the remaining periods, limiting Morelia to few clear-cut chances.
The turning point
Morelia's best spell came during the third 25-minute period, when Necaxa made wholesale changes and the visitors found space in midfield. However, Necaxa's defensive unit held firm, and the Rayos regained control in the final quarter to see out the result. The modified format — uncommon in competitive matches — gave both managers the chance to rotate heavily and test fringe players.
Key performers
Necaxa's goalkeeper was relatively untroubled but made two smart stops during Morelia's strongest spell in the third period. The Rayos' central midfield pairing dictated the tempo in the opening hour, recycling possession efficiently and preventing Morelia from building sustained attacks.
For Morelia, the defensive line showed organisation despite the defeat, a positive sign for head coach José Luis Cendejas as his squad builds toward the Apertura 2026 campaign.
By the numbers
With no detailed match statistics published for this friendly, the headline figure remains the 1-0 scoreline. In pre-season friendlies, results are secondary to fitness and tactical experimentation. Necaxa's ability to keep a clean sheet in their first competitive minutes of the summer will please head coach Martín Varini, who took charge of the Rayos ahead of the new campaign.
Morelia will take encouragement from holding Necaxa to a single goal across 100 minutes of football, even if their attacking output lacked a cutting edge.
What it means
The friendly marked the first pre-season fixture for both clubs ahead of the Apertura 2026. Necaxa, who compete in Liga MX, will use these matches to build toward the start of the Mexican top-flight season. Atlético Morelia, playing in Liga de Expansión MX, are also in the early stages of their preparation after reinforcing their squad with several new arrivals, as reported by El Sol de Morelia.
Both sides continued their pre-season schedules in the weeks that followed, with additional friendlies planned through July.
Verdict
A routine pre-season workout for Necaxa, who did what was required without needing to hit top gear. Morelia will have learned more about their squad depth than the scoreline suggests. The goal scorer remains unconfirmed in published reports, but the result itself was secondary to the fitness work both sides completed.
Necaxa and Monarcas have met 8 times — Necaxa won 2, Monarcas won 4, with 2 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2016. Monarcas leads the head-to-head with 4 victories from 8 meetings. A combined 24 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (11 for the home side, 13 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 7 matches (88%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 7 games (88%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 2–3 in 2019.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 27 Jun 2026