Monarcas vs Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul controlled the first half with authority. Christian Ebere opened the scoring in the 10th minute, pouncing on a rebound after Andrés Montaño's initial effort, and Luka Romero doubled the lead in the 22nd minute with a sharp left-footed finish from inside the area. The Máquina went into half-time 2-0 up, having dictated possession and created the clearer chances.

Manager Joel Huiqui — returning to Morelia where he received a commemorative plaque at the interval — rang the changes at the restart, swapping all 11 outfield players and the goalkeeper. The fresh XI extended the lead in the 65th minute when Mateo Levy connected with a left-wing cross to make it 3-0.

Then Monarcas hit back. Three goals in a 10-minute spell — the 68th, 72nd, and 78th minutes — levelled the score at 3-3. The home side exploited disorganisation in Cruz Azul's entirely new backline, with the third equaliser arriving via an unmarked header from a right-wing cross.

Huiqui's wholesale substitution at half-time was the decisive tactical decision. The 11 changes gave every squad member minutes — valuable in pre-season — but the lack of chemistry among the second-string unit cost a commanding lead. Monarcas's three goals came in quick succession once they sensed vulnerability in the reshuffled defence.

• Christian Ebere — Opened the scoring and continued the goalscoring form he carried into pre-season. Sharp movement in the box and clinical finishing in the first half.
• Luka Romero — Started and delivered a composed left-footed finish for 2-0. The Argentine-born attacking midfielder is pushing for a regular starting role under Huiqui.
• Mateo Levy — Scored Cruz Azul's third with a well-timed header from a cross, the highlight of an otherwise difficult second half for the rotated XI.
• Andrés Gudiño — The second-half goalkeeper prevented a complete disaster with a double save in the 88th minute, first going to ground then smothering the rebound from a corner.

Cruz Azul's first-half XI dominated possession and built a deserved 2-0 lead against a Monarcas side still finding its rhythm. The statistical story of the game, however, lies in the second half: the Máquina's second-string unit struggled to replicate the structure of the starters, conceding three goals in ten minutes. The match ended at 89 minutes when the referee called play off due to heavy rain — Monarcas had already completed the comeback by then. The 3-3 scoreline flattered neither side's defensive solidity but served both teams' pre-season objective of giving minutes to a deep squad.

This is Cruz Azul's first pre-season friendly as reigning Liga MX champions — Huiqui's side won the Clausura 2025 title (la Décima) and are building towards the Apertura 2026 campaign. The mixed performance highlights the depth gap between the first-choice XI and the reserves. Monarcas, competing in the Liga de Expansión MX, will take confidence from the fightback against top-flight opposition. Cruz Azul's next reported friendly is against Comunicaciones of Guatemala.

A pre-season game that told two stories: Cruz Azul's first XI looks sharp and cohesive, while the second unit still needs work under Huiqui's system. Monarcas showed spirit to recover from 3-0 down, but the result matters less than the fitness and minutes both sides banked.

Cruz Azul (first half): Kevin Mier; Omar Campos, Jesús Orozco Chiquete, Gonzalo Piovi, Rodolfo Rotondi; Jeremy Márquez, Charly Rodríguez; Luka Romero, Andrés Montaño, José Paradela; Christian Ebere.

Cruz Azul (second half): Andrés Gudiño; Jorge Rodarte, Jaziel Mendoza, Iván Silva, Fernando Sámano; Bryan Gamboa, Kenneth González; Josué Díaz, Cristian Jiménez, Mateo Levy; Juan José Calero.

Monarcas: Ramón Pasquel; Alejandro Andrade, Sebastián Cantón, Daniel Zamora, René López; Raúl Sandoval, Josué Martínez, Jesús Aguilar; Misael Domínguez, Rubén del Campo, Alonso Flores.