If you’re a fan of Club América, the start of 2026 feels like a weird, recurring nightmare. Honestly, nobody expected the winningest team in Mexican history to look this sluggish two games into the Clausura. But here we are. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the lights at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes—América's temporary home while the Azteca gets its facelift for the World Cup—witnessed something that left the Americanistas in stunned silence. Atlético San Luis didn't just win; they controlled the narrative.
The final score was 2-0.
For those keeping track, that means André Jardine’s squad is currently sitting on zero wins, zero goals scored, and a whole lot of questions. It’s kinda wild when you think about the roster depth they have.
The Red Card That Changed Everything
Football is a game of moments. Sometimes those moments involve a brilliant goal, and sometimes they involve a defender making a split-second decision that backfires spectacularly. In this latest installment of América vs. Atl. San Luis, that moment belonged to Ramón Juárez.
Twenty minutes in. That's all it took. Juárez saw a straight red card for a challenge on Juan Manuel Sanabria. It was a "last man" situation where Sanabria was basically bearing down on goal. The referee, Vicente Jassiel Reynoso Arce, didn't hesitate. Suddenly, the tactical plan André Jardine had spent all week dreaming up went right into the shredder.
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América had to sacrifice. They pulled off Patricio Salas and brought on Sebastián Cáceres to try and patch up the hole in the defense. For the rest of the first half, they actually held on. It was 0-0 at the break, and you could feel a sense of "maybe they can grind this out" in the stands.
San Luis Finds the Chinks in the Armor
The thing about Guillermo Abascal’s San Luis side is that they are patient. They didn't panic when the goals didn't come in the first 45 minutes despite having the man advantage. They just kept circulating the ball, stretching the ten-man América defense until it finally snapped.
Juan Manuel Sanabria—the same guy who drew the red card—found the breakthrough in the 52nd minute. It was a header that left Luis Malagón with absolutely no chance. If the first goal was a punch to the gut, the second one was the knockout blow.
In the 67th minute, João Pedro Galvão doubled the lead. It was a clinical finish from a low cross provided by Salles-Lamonge. At 2-0, with a man down and no rhythm in the final third, the comeback felt impossible.
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- Final Score: América 0-2 Atl. San Luis
- Goals: Juan Manuel Sanabria (52'), João Pedro (67')
- Discipline: Ramón Juárez (Red Card - 20')
- Venue: Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes
Why This Matchup is Sneakily Competitive
Most people assume América should steamroll teams like San Luis. Historically, the stats back that up. América has won 11 of their 15 recent encounters. But if you look closer, San Luis has become a massive thorn in their side lately. Remember the 2023 playoffs? San Luis actually beat them at the Azteca back then, too.
There is a tactical familiarity here. André Jardine used to coach San Luis. He’s the one who built a lot of the foundation they still use. It's like San Luis knows the "Jardine Playbook" better than anyone else, which makes these head-to-head battles way more tactical and gritty than the betting odds usually suggest.
The Reality Check for Jardine
Pressure is a funny thing in Coapa. It builds up fast. After a 0-0 draw against Tijuana in the opening round and this 0-2 loss to San Luis, the "crisis" talk is already starting in the Mexican media.
The biggest issue? The attack is invisible. Even with names like Víctor Dávila and Brian Rodríguez on the pitch, they aren't finishing. They hit the post early in the game, but once the red card happened, the creative spark just evaporated.
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San Luis, on the other hand, looks like a team that knows exactly who they are. They lost their opener 2-1 to Tigres, so coming into Mexico City and taking three points off the champions is a massive statement.
Moving Forward: What to Watch
If you're betting on or following these teams, keep an eye on the defensive rotations. América is going to be without Juárez for at least a game, and their "home field advantage" isn't quite the same at the Ciudad de los Deportes as it is at the Azteca.
For San Luis, Sanabria is becoming one of the most underrated players in Liga MX. His ability to transition from defense to attack is exactly why they were able to punish América on the counter.
Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
Check the injury report for América’s next match to see if they can get their frontline healthy. If they don't find a goal in the first 30 minutes of their next outing, the frustration at the Ciudad de los Deportes is going to get loud. For San Luis, watch if they can maintain this defensive discipline against teams that don't give them a man advantage. They've proven they can play the role of the spoiler perfectly; now they need to show they can dominate when the odds are even.