Rayados Face Crucial Play-In Match Against Pumas This Sunday

Monterrey, Nuevo León — The Rayados will face Pumas this Sunday in a decisive Play-In match as they seek to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Liga MX’s Clausura 2025 season.

After a disappointing defeat to Pachuca in their first Play-In game, Monterrey enters this crucial match with high stakes. Having failed to advance in their last encounter on home turf, the team now looks to recover and maintain their trend of not being eliminated after finishing at the top of the league table.

Coach Martín Demichelis is hopeful for a positive outcome but faces challenges, such as the absence of star player Sergio Ramos. Ramos suffered a muscular injury in the last regular season match against León and missed the game against Pachuca. His recovery has been slow, and while he has been working to rejoin the team, Demichelis noted, “Ramos is doing everything possible to be ready for Sunday.”

Ramos’ potential absence raises concerns, particularly given Monterrey’s position on the league table. A loss to Pumas, who they lead by seven points, would be seen as a serious failure. Monterrey has historically performed well against Pumas, winning their last three matchups and scoring eight goals in their past two encounters.

The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CST at Estadio BBVA, and in case of a tie, the match will be decided by penalties. The Rayados must be at their best to avoid becoming the first top seed to fall short in this new Play-In format.

As they prepare, the Rayados will count on players such as Sergio Canales and Óliver Torres, who are set to return after injury setbacks. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation as fans look forward to whether their team can break through and secure advancement in the playoffs.