Preview: Chivas vs. Necaxa · prediction, team news, line-ups

Chivas host Necaxa at the Estadio Akron on Tuesday 20 October in Matchday 13 of the Apertura 2026, with kick-off at 18:07 Mexico City time.

The hosts sit fourth in the table on 20 points. The visitors are 17th out of 18 with nine.

Match preview

Chivas are fourth on 20 points after 12 games, built on five wins, five draws and two defeats. Their goal difference is +7, with 19 scored and 12 conceded.

Form is less impressive than the table suggests. Gabriel Milito's side are winless in four league games, drawing 2-2 with América, losing 2-0 at home to Querétaro and sharing 1-1 draws with Atlas and Tigres.

At the Akron, Chivas have won three, drawn one and lost two of their six games, scoring 10 and conceding seven. They remain unbeaten on the road, with two wins and four draws, nine goals for and five against.

Ricardo Marín and Roberto Alvarado have nine goals between them this season, according to local media. They provide most of the individual quality in the final third.

Necaxa are enduring a difficult campaign. They are 17th on nine points, with two wins, three draws and seven defeats, and a goal difference of -10 from 15 scored and 25 conceded.

Los Rayos are winless in their last five. They lost 1-0 to Puebla, 3-1 at San Luis and 4-2 to América, drew 3-3 at Pachuca and were beaten 2-0 by Atlas on Saturday. At Pachuca they let a two-goal lead slip.

Away from home is their weakest area. Necaxa have not won in five on the road, with three draws, two defeats, seven goals scored and 11 conceded. Julián Carranza is the main threat with seven goals, while Juan Reynoso still searches for defensive balance.

The recent head-to-head is even. In the last five league meetings, Chivas have won two, Necaxa two and one was drawn. The latest finished 0-0 in April 2026. Chivas won 3-1 in September 2025 and 3-2 in October 2024, while Necaxa won 3-2 in January 2025 and 1-0 in February 2024.

This is the final double matchday of the regular season. Chivas need to end their winless run to stay in the top positions. Necaxa are 11 points behind and are widely considered all but out of the competition.

Team news

Chivas continue to deal with injuries. Luis Romo is recovering from a biceps femoris problem, Omar Govea missed the last game with a muscle issue and José Castillo is in the final stretch of his recovery after three injuries, according to Milito. Local media report no new absentees.

Necaxa have no reported injuries. Emilio Rodríguez, Raúl Martínez and Pedro Pedraza each carry three yellow cards, but nobody is suspended. Reynoso left Alexis Peña, Juan Torres, Kevin Ante, Mauro Zaleta and goalkeeper Luis Jiménez out of the previous squad, so their availability is uncertain.

Lineups have not been confirmed and the media disagree on the starting elevens. Raúl Rangel is expected in goal for Chivas and Carranza to lead the line for Necaxa.