Sunday’s matchup in the second round of the Torneo Clausura 2026 is more than a routine league date for Monterrey. It is another early look at what Matías Almeyda wants this team to become, and the projected starting lineup suggests there is already some continuity taking shape after his arrival on the bench.
Monterrey is set to face Club Necaxa on Sunday, July 26, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 19:00 hours. For Almeyda, it will be his second match with Rayados, and the selection picture points to a coach who is beginning to settle into the rhythm of the squad rather than simply rearrange it on the fly.
One of the clearest signals in the projected XI is that Luis Cárdenas is expected to keep the starting goalkeeper role following Almeyda’s arrival. That kind of decision matters early in a managerial cycle, because it tells you something about trust, stability and where the new coach sees no need for immediate disruption.
What the lineup suggests
The projection also leaves room for Orbelín Pineda, who could be used by Almeyda in a match that should test Monterrey’s control as much as its sharpness. In the opening weeks of a season, those choices often matter as much as the final result: who the coach leans on, which roles stay fixed and where the team can still change shape without losing structure.
That is especially relevant for Monterrey in the second round of the regular season. A projected lineup does not settle every question, but it does offer a useful snapshot of the team’s direction. If the goalkeeper choice holds and Pineda is involved, Monterrey may be signaling that Almeyda is aiming for a blend of familiarity and flexibility rather than a full reset.
Against Necaxa in the Clausura 2026, that balance will be worth watching. This is the stage where early ideas start to become habits, and where a new coach’s preferences begin to matter more than his introduction. For Monterrey, this second match could be a small but revealing step in that process.
