It is game day, and honestly, the vibes around Coapa are a bit tense. Tonight, Sunday, January 18, 2026, Club América heads into the Estadio Hidalgo to face Pachuca, and the pressure is reaching a boiling point. We aren’t just talking about a slow start. We are talking about a historic drought.
The Club America lineup today is basically a puzzle that André Jardine is frantically trying to put together while the clock ticks. For the first time in over 25 years, the Eagles have gone the first two rounds of a tournament without scoring a single goal. Zero. Zilch. A draw against Tijuana and a frustrating 2-0 loss to Atlético San Luis have left the "bicampeón" looking surprisingly toothless.
If you're looking for the official XI, it usually drops about an hour before the 7:00 PM kickoff, but the training ground whispers tell a specific story.
The Henry Martín Dilemma
The biggest question mark involves Henry Martín. "La Bomba" has been dealing with a muscle tear in his hamstring, and the medical reports have been a total roller coaster. Last week, it looked like he was out until Matchday 5. Then, suddenly, he was spotted training with the group at the UNAM complex.
Will he start? Probably not.
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Jardine is famously protective of his stars. Risking a 33-year-old captain with a history of recurring muscle issues this early in the Clausura 2026 seems like a recipe for disaster. Expect him to be on the bench at most. This leaves the heavy lifting to Rodrigo Aguirre and the "Pantera" Raúl Zúñiga. They’ve got to find the back of the net, or the "Jardine Out" hashtags—as ridiculous as they sound for a coach who won three titles—will start surfacing on social media.
Club America Lineup Today: Predicted XI and Tactical Shifts
Pachuca at the Hidalgo is always a nightmare. The altitude, the speed of the Tuzos' transition—it’s a lot. Jardine knows he can't just sit back. He needs creativity, and he’s likely going to rely on some newer faces and returning veterans to spark something.
The Defensive Core
Luis Ángel Malagón is the one constant. He’s been the hero in games that should have been 4-0 losses. In front of him, things get interesting. Ramón Juárez had his red card rescinded by the disciplinary committee, which is a massive win for the defense. He’ll likely partner with Sebastián Cáceres, though Israel Reyes is also pushing for that spot.
- GK: Luis Ángel Malagón
- RB: Kevin Álvarez (Heading back to his old stomping grounds)
- CB: Sebastián Cáceres
- CB: Ramón Juárez
- LB: Cristian Borja
The Engine Room
The midfield is where the game will be won or lost. Álvaro Fidalgo remains the heartbeat of this team. He’s been linked with a move back to Europe in every transfer window for the last two years, yet here he is, still carrying the ball through the middle. Alongside him, we’ll probably see Rodrigo Dourado, providing that shield for the back four.
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The good news? Erick "Chiquito" Sánchez is back. He missed the first two rounds with muscle discomfort but looked sharp in training. Starting him against his former club, Pachuca, is the kind of narrative-driven move that usually pays off in Liga MX.
The Attack: Where are the Goals?
This is the part that keeps fans up at night. Alejandro Zendejas is still out with muscular overload. That’s a huge blow to the right wing.
Instead, look for Isaías Violante to get the nod on the right, with the big-name signing Allan Saint-Maximin on the left. Saint-Maximin has shown flashes of brilliance, but he hasn’t quite found that final ball yet. Up top, it’s a toss-up, but the smart money is on a duo of Patricio Salas and Raúl Zúñiga to try and break the 180-minute scoreless streak.
Why Pachuca is Such a Problem
Pachuca isn't exactly flying high either, but they are scrappy. They beat León 2-1 last week after a disappointing opener against Chivas. Salomon Rondon is still a physical menace in the box, and if Cáceres or Juárez switch off for even a second, it’s game over.
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América’s biggest issue hasn't been keeping the ball; it's been doing something meaningful with it. They have plenty of possession, but it’s often "U-shaped" passing—sideways, sideways, back to the keeper. They need verticality. They need someone to take a risk.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're watching the game tonight or tracking the Club America lineup today, keep an eye on these three specific things:
- The 60-Minute Mark: If the score is still 0-0, watch for Jardine to throw on Henry Martín and Erick Sánchez (if he doesn't start). That's when the "desperation ball" begins.
- Kevin Álvarez's Positioning: Kevin loves to attack, but Oussama Idrissi for Pachuca loves to exploit the space behind the fullback. If Kevin pushes too high, Malagón will be left 1-on-1 more than he'd like.
- The Set-Piece Routine: Since they can't score from open play, look for América to try something "laboratory-style" on corners.
The Eagles are currently sitting 16th in the table. It's ugly. But a win at the Hidalgo changes everything. It’s early in the season, and as we know with Liga MX, it’s not about how you start—it’s about how you crawl into the Liguilla and then turn into a monster.
Check the official social media accounts at 6:00 PM local time for the finalized sheet. Whether it's Zúñiga or a surprise start for Martín, the mission is simple: just score a goal. Any goal. A deflection, a penalty, a mistake—América just needs to see the net ripple to get this season off the ground.