Toluca, State of Mexico.- Even though Guadalajara showed character and plenty of heart to bounce back from a rough start, it ultimately came up short and lost 2-0 to Toluca on Saturday afternoon at Estadio Nemesio Diez, in its Matchday 8 clash of the Clausura 2026. With the result, Chivas gave up the top spot in the standings to the Scarlet side on goal difference and now sit second with the same 18 points.
After a shaky opening stretch that Toluca fully capitalized on to grab a two-goal lead, Chivas settled into the match and evened things out. Armando González scored twice with headers, but both goals were ruled offside and confirmed by the Semi-Automated Offside System. Just before halftime, Luis Romo had to leave the game after aggravating a muscle injury in his right leg.
Chivas picked up the pace and played more vertically in the second half with the introductions of Sandoval, Camberos and Sepúlveda. The team created more chances and pushed forward with urgency, but a lack of finishing touch kept El Rebaño Sagrado from getting on the scoreboard. Guadalajara’s next match will be none other than the Clásico Tapatío, set for Saturday, March 7 at Estadio Jalisco.
Goals
- The home side opened the scoring in the 4th minute from the penalty spot, as Jesús Gallardo buried his shot to the left.
- Toluca doubled the lead in the 15th minute through Jorge Díaz Price, who finished first-time inside the box off a pass from Paulinho.
Key chances
- 7’ — ‘Tala’ Rangel stuck out a strong hand to deny Díaz Price from point-blank range.
- 14’ — Diego Campillo sent in a cross to the far post that Armando González nearly headed home.
- 22’ — ‘Hormiga’ found the net off what looked like a hand-placed cross from Luis Romo, but the goal was ruled offside.
- 32’ — Armando headed in another rebound off a Romo delivery, but once again it was called back for a razor-thin offside.
- 46’ — Daniel Aguirre reached the end line and fired a powerful low cross that Ángel Sepúlveda missed by inches.
- 56’ — ‘Tala’ came up big against Paulinho, stopping his chip attempt inside the box.
- 64’ — ‘Santi’ Sandoval burst forward at full speed and unleashed a rocket from the edge of the area that just drifted wide.
- 68’ — Marín controlled a rebound and set up Sepúlveda, whose first-time blast went just outside the left post.
- 75’ — ‘4K’ had a close-range look in the heart of the box but couldn’t beat the keeper in a one-on-one.
- 78’ — Brian Gutiérrez surprised everyone with a low free kick under the wall, but the goalkeeper kept it out.
Toluca 2-0 Guadalajara
(Jesús Gallardo 4’, Jorge Díaz Price 15’)
Referee: Óscar Mejía García
Venue: Estadio Nemesio Diez
Lineups:
Toluca: 22 Luis García, 2 Diego Barbosa (AM al 45’+6’), 6 Federico Pereira, 4 Bruno Méndez, 20 Jesús Gallardo (AM al 50’)(13 Luan García al 90'), 5 Franco Romero (AM al 13’), 14 Marcel Ruiz (AM al 90’)(24 Fernando Arce al 90'), 29 Jorge Díaz Price (11 Helio Nunes al 71’), 19 Santiago Simón (25 Everardo López al 45’), 10 Jesús Angulo (15 Pável Pérez al 74’) y 26 Paulinho.
Head Coach: Antonio Mohamed.
Guadalajara: 1 Raúl Rangel, 37 Richard Ledezma (26 Hugo Camberos al 45’), 19 Diego Campillo, 7 Luis Romo (11 Brian Gutiérrez al 39’), 2 José Castillo (226 Santiago Sandoval al 45’), 5 Bryan González, 28 Rubén González (AM al 53’), 23 Daniel Aguirre (AM al 63’), 25 Roberto Alvarado, 10 Efraín Álvarez (20 Ángel Sepúlveda al 45’) y 34 Armando González (17 Ricardo Marín al 59’).
Head Coach: Gabriel Milito.
