Necaxa Claims Crucial Home Win Against Querétaro in Liga MX Apertura 2025
Aguascalientes, Mexico – Club Necaxa clinched their first victory of the Liga MX Apertura 2025 season, defeating Querétaro FC 2-1 in a spirited encounter at Estadio Victoria on Friday, July 18, 2025. The match, part of Jornada 2, saw both teams eager to rebound from opening-day defeats, with Necaxa ultimately prevailing in front of their home crowd.
Pre-Match Context: A Quest for Redemption
Both Necaxa and Querétaro entered the second week of the Apertura 2025 campaign seeking to erase the memory of their initial losses. Necaxa, under the guidance of Fernando Gago, had suffered a significant 3-1 defeat to reigning champions Toluca in Jornada 1, leaving them in 16th place in the league standings with zero points and a goal differential of -2. Meanwhile, Querétaro, having recently undergone an acquisition, also began their season with a narrow 1-0 loss to Xolos de Tijuana, placing them just one spot higher than Necaxa in 15th, with zero points and a -1 goal differential. The stage was set for a crucial battle as both sides aimed to kickstart their season with a much-needed win. (Mediotiempo, ESPN Deportes)
First Half Domination and Querétaro’s Response
The match kicked off at 7:00 PM Central Mexico time, and Necaxa quickly asserted their dominance. The home side opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Johan Rojas found the back of the net, giving the Rayos an early lead. Just six minutes later, in the 21st minute, Necaxa extended their advantage. A penalty was awarded after Jesús Piñuelas of Querétaro committed a handball inside the box, and Agustín Palavecino calmly converted the spot-kick, making it 2-0. (Mediotiempo, ESPN Deportes)
However, Querétaro showed resilience and managed to pull one back before halftime. In the 33rd minute, Jonathan Perlaza scored for the Gallos Blancos, reducing the deficit to 2-1. This goal injected new life into the visitors, ensuring a tense remainder of the first half. At the break, Necaxa held a precarious 2-1 lead. (Mediotiempo)
Second Half Stalemate Secures Necaxa’s Win
The second half saw a more cautious approach from both teams. Necaxa focused on defending their lead, while Querétaro pushed for an equalizer. Despite several attempts and a strong effort from the visitors, neither side was able to add to their tally. Necaxa’s defense held firm, thwarting Querétaro’s advances and preserving their one-goal advantage until the final whistle. The match concluded with a 2-1 victory for Necaxa, marking their first three points of the Apertura 2025 season. (ESPN Deportes)
Lineups and Head-to-Head History
Necaxa’s confirmed starting lineup featured Ezequiel Unsain in goal, with a defensive trio of Alexis Pena, Diego De Buen, and Cristian Calderon. The midfield comprised Ricardo Monreal, Jose Rodriguez, Agustin Palavecino, and Johan Rojas, supporting a front three of Raul Sanchez, Diber Cambindo, and Kevin Rosero. Querétaro countered with Jose Hernandez as goalkeeper, a back four of Oscar Manzanarez, Kevin Escamilla, Lucas Rodriguez, and Jonathan Perlaza. The midfield included Jaime Valencia Gomez, Jesus Pinuelas, and Angel Zapata, with Rodrigo Bogarin, Fernando Gonzalez, and Ronaldo Cisneros leading the attack. (SportsGambler)
Historically, Necaxa has held a slight edge over Querétaro in recent encounters. The Rayos were unbeaten in their last four meetings against the Gallos Blancos prior to this match, including a 2-0 home victory in the Clausura 2025 tournament on March 29, 2025. Out of the last ten head-to-head matches, five have ended in draws, with Necaxa securing three wins and Querétaro two. (SportsGambler, ESPN Deportes)
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Necaxa earns a much-needed boost in the early stages of the Apertura 2025, moving up the league table and demonstrating their potential to compete. Querétaro, despite a valiant effort, will need to regroup and address their defensive vulnerabilities as they continue their search for their first points of the season. The Liga MX action continues to unfold, promising more thrilling matches in the weeks to come.
