Diego Campillo: the Rojiblanco to watch against Pumas | OneFootball

The Apertura 2026 has once again confirmed the growth of Diego Campillo. The center back developed in the Cantera Rojiblanca has established himself as a hugely valuable piece for Guadalajara and, match after match, has shown that his development goes hand in hand with greater influence within Gabriel Milito’s system.

Heading into Matchday 8, when Chivas will host Pumas at Estadio AKRON, Campillo stands out as the Rebaño Sagrado’s player to watch, both for the level he has shown throughout the tournament and for his track record against the university side.

The 24-year-old defender has played in 6 of the 7 matches Guadalajara has contested in AP26, and he has found in the sweeper role an ideal setting to enhance some of his main strengths: reading the game, the ability to defend large spaces, and his quality in building attacks from the back.

Campillo has become one of the main figures responsible for holding together Guadalajara’s high defensive line. He is often the last man and, from that position, has had to go directly up against forwards of enormous quality with very different characteristics.

Throughout this tournament he has shown his ability to come out on top in one-on-one duels against powerful, fast attackers, while also improving considerably in defending the space behind him.

His growth is also evident on the ball. Campillo is one of the players who contributes most in Guadalajara’s first phase of buildup, especially through short passes and line-breaking balls that allow the team to beat the opponent’s first or second line of pressure.

And his influence is not limited to just one position. In the match against Xolos de Tijuana, for example, he performed a dual role: he started as a sweeper and later moved to right center back. It was precisely from that area that he found the space to score his goal in AP26.

That match sums up much of what Campillo currently represents for Chivas: a defender capable of adapting to different scenarios without losing his impact on the game. In addition to his goal, he has one assist in the tournament, with both contributions coming against Tijuana.

His adaptation to Gabriel Milito’s model is no coincidence. Since his return to Guadalajara, the Durango native has gradually found the best way to make the most of his qualities within the team. More than simply playing in different positions, he has discovered how to maximize his true impact on the team’s collective functioning.

The proof lies in his ability to defend far from his own goal, win direct duels, and at the same time provide the team with a clean way out from the back. That combination is especially valuable for a Guadalajara side looking to impose itself from a high defensive line.

Now, against Pumas, he will have the opportunity to once again be a key figure. Last tournament, Campillo was already decisive against the university side at Estadio AKRON, a match in which he provided an assist and delivered a solid defensive performance. It is a precedent he will look to repeat on Matchday 8 of Apertura 2026.

Because of his growth, his ability to defend large spaces, his contribution on the ball, and the importance he has gained within the rojiblanco system, Diego Campillo is Chivas’ player to watch against Pumas.

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