What a start for Guadalajara! With an excellent footballing display, clinical finishing, and a full connection with their fans, Chivas defeated Pachuca 2–0 on Saturday night at Estadio AKRON, which roared alongside its Rebaño Sagrado in the Matchday 1 clash of the Clausura 2026. With the result, Chivas secured their fifth straight win against the Tuzos and extended their positive run to nine consecutive opening-matchdays in Liga MX without defeat.
From the opening whistle, the Rojiblancos took control of the match and adopted an attacking approach, dominating possession and applying high pressure that kept Pachuca pinned back in their own half. That dominance translated into multiple scoring chances and a two-goal lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, the Rebaño played with a bit more restraint without abandoning the attack, calmly managing the clock and seeing the result through. Guadalajara will now need to quickly switch focus to their upcoming match against Bravos de Juárez, the first of two games they will play next week.
Goals
16’ – The first for the ‘Hormiga’!Armando González popped up at the perfect moment to tap home a deflected cross-shot from Brian Gutiérrez, sending the Nación Rojiblanca into celebration with the first goal of 2026.
49’ – Chivas strike again! Efraín Álvarez broke into the final third down the left flank, lifted his head and spotted the unmarked Daniel Aguirre on the opposite side. He delivered a cross to the far post, where ‘Dani’ simply finished the move and sent the ball straight to the back of the net.
Key chances
6’ Richard Ledezma delivered a low cross from the right to the far post that José Castillo met with a header, but his effort went wide of the Hidalgo side’s goal.
12’ ‘Richy’ Ledezma tried his luck from outside the box with a powerful, well-placed strike that was deflected by the defense for a corner.
15’ A pass from Efraín Álvarez found the ‘Hormiga,’ whose right-footed shot forced a full-stretch save from the Pachuca goalkeeper, who could only parry with his right leg.
24’ BrianGutiérrez! He beat his marker and, with the ball under control, fired a powerful shot from outside the area that skimmed the lower corner of the goal.
31’ After a cross from LuisRomo,‘Richy’ unleashed a diagonal shot toward the far post that narrowly missed the target.
34’ Armando González threaded a through ball to Luis Romo, who poked the ball goalward, but his effort went inches wide of Moreno’s post.
37’ Gutiérrez again! Brian rose inside the box to head a free-kick cross from Efraín Álvarez, sending it just wide.
41’ The ‘Cotorro’ appeared! Following a cross from the right by Richard Ledezma, Bryan González connected with a powerful strike that sailed over the crossbar.
44’ Roberto Alvarado struck a fierce right-footed shot toward goal that the Tuzos’ keeper gathered with both hands.
47’ Romo once more! Luis Romo fired a first-post rocket from inside the area, forcing a great save to prevent the second before halftime.
54’ After a recycled cross from DanielAguirre, Bryan Gutiérrez flicked the ball on and fired a shot that went wide of the right post.
66’ Brian Gutiérrez again! Brian let fly from outside the area with a powerful attempt that threatened the opposing goal.
Guadalajara 2–0 Pachuca
(Armando González 16’, Daniel Aguirre 49’)
Referee: Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava
Estadio AKRON
Lineups
Guadalajara: 1 Raúl Rangel, 5 Bryan González, 2 José Castillo, 7 Luis Romo, 23 Daniel Aguirre, 37 Richard Ledezma (24 Miguel Gómez 61’), 6 Omar Govea, 25 Roberto Alvarado (26 Santiago Sandoval 68’), 11 Brian Gutiérrez (26 Hugo Camberos 85’), 10 Efraín Álvarez (31 Yael Padilla 85’), 34 Armando González (20 Ángel Sepúlveda 61’).
Head coach: Gabriel Milito
Pachuca: 25 Carlos Moreno, 2 Sergio Barreto, 4 Eduardo Dos Santos, 13 Jorge Berlanga, 18 Ari Contreras (Cristóbal Hernández 67’), 5 Pedro Pedraza (José Rondón 45’), 26 Alán Bautista, 28 Elías Montiel, 7 Luis Quiñones, 18 Alexei Domínguez (Jhonder Cádiz 88’), 29 Robert Nunes (Oussama Idrissi 77’).
Head coach: Esteban Solari
