New Eras & Missing Stars: Pachuca & Rayados Battle in Liga MX Opener

Well, Liga MX is back, and it wasted no time throwing us a classic Sunday showdown. This past weekend, all eyes were on the Estadio Hidalgo as Club Pachuca hosted Rayados de Monterrey for the opening match of the Torneo Apertura 2025. It was a fascinating clash right from the start, not just because it's two of the league's heavyweights, but because both clubs are stepping into brand new eras.

Key Highlights

• ✓ Pachuca and Rayados kicked off the Apertura 2025 with a tense 0-0 draw at halftime.
• ✓ Both clubs featured new head coaches, with Jaime Lozano leading Pachuca and Domènec Torrent managing Monterrey.
• ✓ Pachuca was without star players Oussama Idrissi (suspension) and Salomón Rondón (transferred to Real Oviedo).
• ✓ Monterrey's new goalkeeper, Santiago Mele, had an outstanding debut, making four crucial saves in the first half.
• ✓ Jesús "Tecatito" Corona came agonizingly close to scoring with a bicycle kick that struck the post.

A Tale of Two New Skippers

You could feel the "new season" energy in the air, especially from the technical areas. Both Pachuca and Monterrey came into this game fresh off a trip to the Mundial de Clubes 2025, but with completely different stories and, more importantly, new managers at the helm. For the home side, Los Tuzos, it was the official league debut for Jaime Lozano, who took the reins after the sudden departure of Guillermo Almada.

Lozano's start was a baptism by fire. Pachuca's Club World Cup campaign was a rough one; they were unfortunately eliminated in the group stage after facing tough competition like Salzburgo, Real Madrid, and Al-Hilal. On the other side of the pitch, Rayados came in under the guidance of their new coach, Domènec Torrent. La Pandilla had a more successful run in the US, advancing from their group as runners-up before being narrowly knocked out 2-1 by Borussia Dortmund in the round of 16. Both squads returned to Mexico eager to make their mark on the domestic league.

💡 What's Interesting: In his very first half as a Rayados player, Uruguayan international goalkeeper Santiago Mele put on a show, making a total of four crucial saves to keep his team level and announce his arrival in Liga MX.

The Big Names Missing for Pachuca

Now, for the big question on every Tuzos fan's mind: where were their offensive superstars? It was immediately clear that Jaime Lozano's game plan had to account for two massive absences. The electrifying attacker, Oussama Idrissi, wasn't even on the bench. The reason? He's serving a two-match suspension carried over from last season after being sent off in the Liguilla match against América.

If that wasn't a big enough blow, their powerhouse striker, Salomón Rondón, was also nowhere to be seen. It turns out the Venezuelan goal machine is no longer with the club at all. He has officially made the move to Spain, signing with Real Oviedo. His departure leaves a significant void in Pachuca's attack, one that the club is now scrambling to fill for the new season.

With those two key pieces out, the offensive responsibility fell squarely on the shoulders of Alexei Domínguez and Luis Quiñones. They were tasked with forming the new forward duo, and the pressure was on them to prove they could fill the shoes of two of the league's most dangerous players. It's a huge opportunity for them to step up and make a name for themselves.

A Goalless But Gripping First Half

Despite the missing players, the match was anything but dull. The first 45 minutes ended 0-0, but don't let the score fool you. Monterrey came out swinging, clearly looking to test the Pachuca defense early. The first real chance came at the 12-minute mark when Rayados' "Corcho" Rodríguez unleashed a powerful long-range shot, but Pachuca keeper Carlos Moreno was up to the task, tipping it over for a corner.

The real story of the half, though, was the man between the posts for Monterrey. Santiago Mele, in his debut, was absolutely brilliant. He made a fantastic save to deny Elias Montiel and later produced an incredible reflex stop on a point-blank shot from Jhonder Cádiz. He was a wall.

But the most heart-stopping moment came from a familiar face. At the 23-minute mark, Jesús "Tecatito" Corona, one of Rayados' star players, attempted a spectacular "chilena" (bicycle kick) inside the box. It was perfectly executed and had the keeper beat, but the ball crashed against the post. It was a moment of pure magic that was just inches away from being the goal of the week.

How They Lined Up

It's always interesting to see how the new managers set up their teams for the first game. Here’s a look at the starting XIs that took the field at the Hidalgo:

Pachuca (DT Jaime Lozano): Carlos Moreno; Sergio Barreto, Daniel Aceves, Eduardo Dos Santos, Luis Rodríguez; Pedro Pedraza, Alan Bautista, Elías Montiel; Alexei Domínguez, Luis Quiñones, and Jhonder Cádiz.

Rayados (DT Domènec Torrent): Santiago Mele; Erick Aguirre, Stefan Medina, Sergio Ramos, Gerardo Arteaga; Jorge Rodríguez, Iker Fimbres, Óliver Torres; Jesús "Tecatito" Corona, Alfonso Alvarado, and Germán Berterame.

Yes, you read that right. The legendary defender Sergio Ramos was in the starting lineup for Monterrey, adding another layer of star power and experience to an already stacked roster. His presence alone shows the ambition Rayados has for this Apertura 2025 tournament.

Conclusion

So, after 45 minutes of action, we were left with a tactical stalemate on the scoreboard but plenty of drama on the pitch. The opener for the Apertura 2025 gave us a glimpse into the new identities of both Pachuca and Rayados. We saw a Pachuca side trying to find its footing without two of its most crucial offensive weapons and a Rayados team loaded with talent that just couldn't find the finishing touch.

The biggest takeaway from the first half was undoubtedly the stellar debut of goalkeeper Santiago Mele, who looks like he could be a massive signing for Monterrey. With both teams looking to make adjustments and hungry for a winning start, the second half was set up to be an absolute thriller. It was a classic, cagey start to the new Liga MX season.