Monterrey bounced back in style in Apertura 2025 Jornada 11, edging past Santos Laguna 1–0 at Estadio BBVA thanks to a first-half header from Lucas Ocampos. The narrow win was enough to steady the ship after the heavy defeat to Toluca and extend Rayados’ impressive home dominance over the Laguneros in short-tournament play.
Match Overview
Rayados controlled possession and territory right from kickoff, creating early pressure and forcing Santos to sit deep. The breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Gerardo Arteaga whipped in a perfect cross that Ocampos powered home with a thumping header the only goal of the night.
Santos rarely threatened, managing a handful of shots but no major scoring chances, leaving Monterrey’s single strike to stand as the decisive moment in a match they largely dictated.
Key Match Moments
- Ocampos Winner (35’): Met Arteaga’s delivery with a textbook header, giving Monterrey the lead.
- Ramos’ Two Disallowed Goals: Veteran defender Sergio Ramos twice thought he had scored one ruled offside in the first half, another chalked off for a foul in the second.
- Lozano Red Card (90’+): Santos forward Anthony Lozano was sent off in stoppage time after catching Ramos in the head with a high boot, forcing the veteran defender to play the final minutes with a bandaged head.
- Berterame Hits the Post: Monterrey nearly doubled their lead when Germán Berterame struck the woodwork in the second half.
Tactical Breakdown
Head coach Domènec Torrent set Monterrey up to press high and recycle possession quickly, using the wings to stretch Santos’ low block. Wide men Jesús “Tecatito” Corona and Arteaga consistently delivered service, creating aerial matchups for Ramos and Ocampos. The approach paid off with the decisive goal and kept Santos under constant pressure.
Standout Performances
- Lucas Ocampos: The match-winner and Monterrey’s most dangerous attacker, with clever movement, early shots, and relentless pressing.
- Sergio Ramos: Marshaled the back line superbly, dominated aerially, and nearly scored twice despite both goals being ruled out.
- Carlos Acevedo (Santos): Kept the visitors alive with key saves, preventing Monterrey from adding a second.
- Anthony Martial: Made his first start for Rayados, showed flashes of link-up play, and was subbed off after 71 minutes as he continues adapting to Torrent’s system.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This win was crucial after the 6–2 defeat to Toluca in the previous round, restoring confidence and putting Monterrey back in the mix near the top of the Apertura table. Historically, Santos have found the BBVA a tough place to win with only one victory there in short-tournament play since Clausura 2023.
Official Recap Highlights
Club reports confirmed the early Ocampos chance within two minutes, Ramos’ disallowed goals, Berterame’s effort off the post, and Lozano’s late red card. The storyline was clear: Monterrey dominated but left the margin slim, relying on defensive solidity to see out the result.
Lineups
Monterrey XI:
Santiago Mele; Ricardo Chávez, Stefan Medina, Sergio Ramos, Gerardo Arteaga; Fidel Ambriz, Óliver Torres; Jesús “Tecatito” Corona, Lucas Ocampos, Germán Berterame; Anthony Martial.
Santos XI:
Carlos Acevedo; José Abella, Kevin Balanta, Geovanni/Jonathan Pérez, Bruno Amione; Javier Güemez, Aldo López, Salvador “Santiago” Mariscal; Cristian Dájome, Jesús Cejo, Ramiro Sordo.
What This Means
Rayados stay firmly in the Apertura race and showed they can grind out wins in controlled, low-scoring matches an encouraging sign heading into tougher fixtures. For Santos, the loss highlighted a lack of midfield progression and attacking punch, while Lozano’s red card adds a suspension headache ahead of their next match.
What’s Next
- Monterrey: Travels to face Tijuana (Xolos) in Jornada 12, looking to build on momentum with another strong showing.
- Santos: Faces a stern test against Club América, where discipline and improved attacking transitions will be critical.
