Rayados defeats Pumas and qualifies for the 2025 Clausura Liguilla

The final guest at the Fiesta Grande has been decided. Los Rayados qualified as the eighth team to compete in the 2025 Clausura Quarterfinals after defeating Pumas in the Play-In, who showed no resistance to avoid relegation at the BBVA Stadium. With a 2-0 score, Monterrey advanced to the next phase of the tournament, where they will face the superleader , Toluca .

Despite all the adversity and misunderstandings that have arisen throughout the season, the Pandilla team declares itself ready to be an uncomfortable opponent in the Liguilla . After its surprising loss last week to Pachuca, the Rayados redeemed themselves against the university team and shook off the ghosts with goals from Germán Berterame and Nelson Deossa.

With only one last chance to qualify for the quarterfinals, both teams were cautious in their search for scoring opportunities early on. While the university team had a greater presence in the Albiazul penalty area, their attacks lacked certainty. Meanwhile, the Monterrey team had the most dangerous attack, with Lucas Ocampos's shot miraculously blocked by goalkeeper Alex Padilla's leg.

Although the goal was slow in coming, Monterrey dominated from start to finish . This was especially true because the visitors' intention was to prolong the match as long as possible, as they were looking to secure a place on penalties, just as they had against Juárez. However, Efraín Juárez's approach was inadequate in the face of the Monterrey team's decisiveness.

In the second half, a long-awaited return took place. After almost a month, Sergio Canales returned to action , having overcome his leg injury. The Spaniard was instrumental in this match, firing a shot toward the visitors' goal that ended with a counterattack by Berterame to open the scoring in the 57th minute.

For their part, Pumas fell into despair, and the fouls became more frequent. No one could provide the composure needed to try something different, and Jorge Ruvalcaba was sent off in the 76th minute for a second yellow card.

Finding themselves outnumbered on all fronts and having to retreat to prevent a bigger scoreline, Pumas were unable to counter the Rayados' power. In the final stretch, Nelson Deossa doubled the lead in the 89th minute to seal Monterrey's place in the semifinals.

MONTERREY LINEUPS

GOALIE

DEFENSES

• 2. Ricardo Chávez
• 33. Stefan Medina
• 4. Victor Guzman
• 21. Luis Reyes (74' 3. Gerardo Arteaga)

MEDIA

• 19. Jordi Cortizo (45' 10. Sergio Canales)
• 30. Jorge Rodríguez (74' 5. Fidel Ambríz)
• 25. Nelson Deossa

FORWARDS

• 17. Jesús Corona (67' 31. Roberto de la Rosa)
• 7. German Berterame
• 29. Lucas Ocampos (67' 8. Oliver Torres)

Coach Martín Demichelis

Pumas

GOALIE

DEFENSES

• 13. Pablo Monroy (63' 17. Jorge Ruvalcaba)
• 5. Rubén Duarte
• 6. Nathan Silva
• 2. Pablo Bennevendo

MEDIA

• 22. Robert Ergas
• 8. José Caicedo
• 20. Santiago Trigos (63' 27. Piero Quispe)

FORWARDS

• 29. Rogelio Funes Mori
• 28. Adalberto Carrasquilla (45' 23. Ignacio Pussetto)
• 10. Leonardo Suárez (80' 19. Ali Ávila)

Coach Efraín Juárez

SV