Chivas v Toluca, first of many wins in AP26 and the Leagues Cup | OneFootball

Every tournament brings new challenges, but some carry special meaning. For Guadalajara, Matchday 1 of the Apertura 2026 represents the perfect opportunity to break through one of the few remaining barriers in Gabriel Milito’s project: beating Toluca.

This Saturday, the Sacred Flock will host the Red Devils at AKRON Stadium, a venue that has become a true fortress and recently took center stage during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There, in front of their fans, they will look to begin the semester with a victory that confirms the team’s growth and sends a clear message from the very first match.

Although Chivas could not get past Toluca in the previous two meetings under Milito, both matches left a different impression than the result suggested. The team competed, controlled long stretches of play, and showed footballing arguments that now fuel the hope that this time the story can be different. And the conditions seem to be in place.

Guadalajara arrives strengthened after a year of consolidation. Kevin Castañeda and Jordan Carrillo bring new tools to a squad that also welcomes back five World Cup players, who return after representing Mexico at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In addition, six members of the Flock were called up for the Liga MX vs. MLS All-Star Game, recognition that reflects the strong collective and individual form the team is enjoying.

The numbers also back up that growth. In his first year as the Red-and-White coach, Gabriel Milito posted a 57 percent win rate, with a record of 22 wins, 8 draws, and 13 losses in 43 official matches across Liga MX and the Leagues Cup. That, along with the undeniable identity he instilled in Guadalajara.

Taking the Apertura 2025–Clausura 2026 football year as a reference, Chivas was the third-highest points winner in Liga MX, with 65 points, behind only Toluca and Cruz Azul. They also recorded 20 wins, 5 draws, and 9 losses, with 62 goals scored and only 39 conceded—figures that reflect the evolution of a team playing a leading role on both ends of the pitch.

And if there is one place where that growth tends to show, it is at home. The AKRON will host a fifteenth consecutive home match without defeat if the Flock can get a result this Saturday. Chivas currently boasts a streak of 14 official home matches unbeaten, all under Gabriel Milito, turning the Red-and-White Fortress into one of its main assets in competing.

Added to that is another statistic that invites optimism: for the past nine tournaments, Guadalajara has not lost on Liga MX Matchday 1. During that span, they have recorded 5 wins and 4 draws, proof that the Flock has found the formula to start championships on the right foot.

Now, the challenge is even greater. It is not only about starting with 3 points. It is about beating one of the main title contenders, breaking a pending issue against Toluca, and confirming from the opening whistle of Apertura 2026 that Chivas wants to remain one of the biggest protagonists in Mexican football.

Because important tournaments begin with important victories. And few opportunities look as ideal as the one the Flock will have this Saturday, at home and with all its people behind it.

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