Chivas take off in Apertura 2026

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Club Deportivo Guadalajara

·24 August 2026

Chivas take off in Apertura 2026

Guadalajara is starting to take off in the 2026 Apertura. After five matchdays, the Rebaño boasts the fourth-best offense in the tournament and the third-best defense, numbers that reflect the strong form the red-and-white side is enjoying.

At the start of this semester, Gabriel Milito has found different combinations and tools to shape a Guadalajara that is becoming more balanced by the day. That progress was best reflected in the 5-2 rout of Xolos, where the Rebaño showed sharpness up front and solidity at the back.

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That is why we are reviewing the keys behind the Rebaño’s performance.

An offense that delivers

Ricardo Marín and Roberto Alvarado have been two of the main figures in Guadalajara’s current attacking form, as both already have 3 goals each in the 2026 Apertura. Both forwards have delivered consistently in front of goal, with strikes that have been important in helping the Rebaño earn positive results.
However, Guadalajara’s attacking strength is not limited to its main references up front. Santiago Sandoval has also found chances to create danger and make his presence felt in the finishing area, while Hugo Camberos has provided flair down the left wing within Milito’s system.
In addition, Efraín Álvarez has been a key piece in giving Guadalajara clarity in the final third.
Even players whose main responsibility is not in attack, such as Diego Campillo, have already gotten on the scoresheet, a sign of the different options the Rebaño has to create danger and be clinical in front of goal.

Solidity at the back

The Rebaño has also found security between the posts. In the first five matches of the 2026 Apertura, Raúl “Tala” Rangel has kept two clean sheets, providing confidence from the back for a Guadalajara side that has conceded only 5 goals.

The balance of Gabriel Milito’s Chivas

The numbers make it clear that Guadalajara is finding important balance at the start of the tournament: 8 goals scored and only 5 conceded. This combination has placed the Rebaño in 4th place in the overall standings with 10 points, and as one of the most competitive teams projected, once again, to be a leading contender in the 2026 Apertura.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.