Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Monterrey drew 1-1 with Atlante FC in a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly at El Barrial. Iker Fimbres' free-kick cancelled out Jhojan Julio's opener.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Playing behind closed doors at the Centro de Entrenamiento "El Barrial" in Santiago, Nuevo León, the match served as Monterrey's second pre-season outing under manager Matías Almeyda ahead of the Apertura 2026 campaign.
Atlante, managed by Miguel Herrera, struck first in the first half. A misplaced pass from Monterrey centre-back Carlos Salcedo in the build-up phase was intercepted by Jhojan Julio, who capitalised on the error to slot past the Rayados goalkeeper and give Atlante the lead.
Monterrey struggled to break down a compact Atlante defence for much of the match but found their equaliser from a set-piece. Iker Fimbres, the academy graduate, stepped up to a free-kick and beat the Atlante wall and goalkeeper to level the score at 1-1.
Neither side could find a winner in the remainder of the match, with the 1-1 scoreline holding until the final whistle.
The turning point
Carlos Salcedo's errant pass in the first half gifted Atlante the opening goal and set the tone for a frustrating afternoon for Monterrey. The defensive lapse — an unforced error in a low-stakes friendly — is the kind of detail Almeyda will want ironed out before competitive fixtures begin. Fimbres' free-kick response salvaged the draw but did not erase the concern over unforced errors in the defensive third.
Key performers
Iker Fimbres (Monterrey) — The canterano was the standout for Rayados, scoring a well-taken free-kick to earn the draw. The 21-year-old midfielder continues to push for a regular role in Almeyda's first-team plans.
Jhojan Julio (Atlante) — The Ecuadorian winger was alert to Salcedo's mistake and finished clinically. A bright spark for Atlante's attack throughout the minutes he played.
Carlos Salcedo (Monterrey) — Responsible for the error that led to the goal, the experienced defender's uncharacteristic slip was the decisive negative moment in an otherwise functional defensive display.
By the numbers — interpreted
With no official stats package published for this behind-closed-doors friendly, the scoreline itself tells the story: one goal from open play (Julio's finish from a defensive error) and one from a set-piece (Fimbres' free-kick). The lack of goals from open play for Monterrey — a side that will rely heavily on creative talent in the Apertura — suggests attacking cohesion is still a work in progress.
What it means
Monterrey remain without a win in pre-season following their 1-1 draw with Atlante. Their next friendly is scheduled for 8 July 2026, when they host Costa Rican side Cartaginés at El Barrial, also behind closed doors (source: Multimedios Deportes).
For Atlante, the result against a Liga MX side provides a useful benchmark as they prepare for their own campaign in the Liga de Expansión MX under Miguel Herrera.
Verdict
A typical pre-season friendly: disjointed, low on intensity, and decided by individual errors and set-pieces. Monterrey's lack of a pre-season win is not a concern in itself, but the defensive lapse and limited open-play creativity are areas Almeyda will address before the 8 July fixture against Cartaginés.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 5 Jul 2026