Necaxa will try to put an end to a nine-jornada winless streak when it hosts Atlas on Friday at 19:00 hours at Estadio Victoria in Aguascalientes in Jornada 12 of Liga MX. For Necaxa, the match is about more than just three points. It is a chance to stop the slide and turn a difficult stretch into a much-needed reset.
Juan Reynoso said he sees progress in the team, even if the results have not followed. He pointed to an evolution that was not there in previous matches, but also admitted the frustration of not being able to close games when Necaxa has been in position to do so. That is the central tension for the home side entering this one: the process has improved, but the scoreboard has not been kind.
What Necaxa needs to change
The simplest answer is finishing matches. Reynoso’s comments suggest Necaxa has been competitive in stretches, but the team has not consistently turned those moments into victories. It has been nine jornadas since the last win, and that kind of run can quickly reshape a season if it continues.
Necaxa’s most recent positive reference point came in Jornada 2, when it beat Monterrey 2-1. Since then, the results have not matched the early promise. Now the team is looking to stop the streak in front of its home crowd and avoid letting the pressure build any further.
Matías Espíndola called the matchup a great challenge, and that fits the moment well. Necaxa knows the margin for error is thin, but it also knows this is the type of match that can change the feeling around a team quickly if it can finally find a result.
Atlas brings road form into the match
Atlas arrives after drawing the clásico tapatío against Chivas, and it also comes with a strong record away from home in the tournament. Four of Atlas’s five victories have come on the road, which makes it a dangerous visitor for a Necaxa side searching for confidence.
Esteban Solari said Atlas must be self-critical because the team has repeatedly put itself in difficult spots with penalties or red cards that change the plan. Even so, the road record suggests Atlas has been able to handle pressure away from home better than many teams in the league. That adds another layer to Friday’s meeting: Necaxa needs the win, but Atlas has already shown it can be effective in this kind of setting.
Espíndola also said Atlas plays well, while adding that Necaxa will bring plenty of danger of its own. That is the practical reality of the matchup. One side is chasing relief after a long winless run, while the other is trying to protect the momentum that has come from strong away results.
Friday's schedule also includes Atlante-Pumas
Later on Friday, Atlante hosts Pumas at Estadio Banorte. That match has its own urgency, with both teams in need of points, and it connects back to the Apertura 2007 final. But the immediate focus in Jornada 12 is clearly on Necaxa and Atlas, where the stakes are obvious for both sides. Necaxa wants to end a nine-jornada wait for a win. Atlas wants to keep building on a tournament in which it has been especially effective on the road.
By the time the final whistle arrives at Estadio Victoria, the question will be simple: Can Necaxa finally break through, or will Atlas continue to make life difficult away from home?
