Honestly, if you're a Santos Laguna fan right now, things feel a little bleak. We are just a few weeks into the Clausura 2026, and the table isn't lying. Currently, Santos is sitting right near the bottom, specifically 17th, with zero points after two matches. It’s a rough start. Losing 3-1 to Necaxa at home and then getting thumped 3-1 by Toluca on the road isn't exactly the "ambitious project" the front office promised back in early January.
But is it time to panic? Maybe. Or maybe we need to look at the massive overhaul happening behind the scenes in Torreón.
What’s Going Wrong with Santos Laguna vs Liga MX Competition?
The gap between the top tier—teams like Monterrey, Toluca, and Chivas—and Santos Laguna feels wider than ever. While Rayados is sitting pretty at the top of the 2026 standings with 7 goals scored in their first few outings, Santos has already conceded 6. That's three goals per game. You can't win in Liga MX with a defense that leaks like a rusted pipe.
Head coach Francisco Rodríguez has been vocal about "strategic discipline," but the execution is missing. The team is currently ranked 2nd in the league for "goals conceded from opposition shots," which is a fancy way of saying they are making life way too easy for rival strikers.
The New Faces in the Squad
Alejandro Irarragorri Kalb and the management didn't sit idle during the winter break. They brought in some heavy hitters to try and fix the ship. Here’s who they’re betting on:
- Lucas Di Yorio: The 29-year-old Argentine forward is the new hope for goals. He’s 1.90m tall, basically a lighthouse in the box. He’s fresh off a 12-goal season with Universidad de Chile.
- Carlos Gruezo: A veteran Ecuadorian midfielder who has seen it all, including two World Cups. He’s 30 now, but his job is to provide the grit Santos has been missing in the center of the pitch.
- Ezequiel Bullaude: On loan from the Dutch side Feyenoord (via Xolos), he’s only 25 and brings that European tactical awareness.
- Efraín Orona: A 26-year-old Mexican defender brought in to stabilize that shaky backline.
The talent is there. On paper, this roster shouldn't be 17th. But football isn't played on paper, and right now, the chemistry is non-existent.
The Problem of Consistency
If you look at the Apertura 2025 stats, Santos finished 11th. They weren't great, but they weren't a disaster either. They had a decent home record (6 wins, 3 losses) but were absolutely abysmal on the road, managing only two points away from the Estadio Corona.
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That "home fortress" vibe has vanished. Losing the Clausura opener to Necaxa at home was a punch in the gut for the fans. In the 2025/2026 cycle so far, Santos has a goal difference of -6. They’ve scored 22 but let in 28 across the full season. When you compare that to the elite of Liga MX, like Toluca who has a +25 goal difference from the previous tournament, you see the mountain they have to climb.
Tactical Shifts Under Francisco Rodríguez
Coach Rodríguez is trying to implement a high-pressing game. The stats show that Santos actually has a high "dribble success rate" (around 68%), meaning individual players like Jordan Carrillo (when he's not on loan) or the young Kevin Picón can beat their man.
The issue? Possession doesn't equal points.
They are losing the ball in dangerous areas. In the recent match against Toluca, Santos actually looked okay for the first 45 minutes. Then the wheels fell off. They are lacking that 90-minute focus that separates the Liguilla contenders from the bottom-feeders.
The Relegation Ghost is Back
Here is the thing no one likes to talk about. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) recently ruled that promotion and relegation must return to Liga MX for the 2026-27 season. While Santos is safe for this specific calendar year, the "procedural" safety net is about to disappear.
If they don't fix the internal culture now, they'll be heading into the next year with a "Cociente" (percentage) that puts them in the danger zone. The pressure isn't just about winning a trophy; it's about avoiding a historical catastrophe.
Why the Fans are Frustrated
It’s the sales. It always comes back to the sales. Over the last couple of years, Santos has lost key pieces like Juan Brunetta and Harold Preciado. While the club is great at "buying low and selling high," the fans are tired of being a feeder club for the likes of Tigres or Monterrey.
The current "Ambitious Project" needs to show results by February, or the atmosphere at the TSM is going to get toxic. You can only sell "potential" for so long before people demand points.
What Needs to Happen Next
If Santos Laguna wants to climb back into the top 10 of Liga MX, they need to stop the defensive bleeding immediately. Their next match against FC Juárez on January 19th is a "must-win"—and I don't use that term lightly. Juárez is currently sitting in the middle of the pack, and if Santos can't take points from them at home, the season might be over before it truly begins.
Watch the integration of Lucas Di Yorio. If he doesn't start finding the back of the net in the next two games, the pressure on Rodríguez will become unsustainable.
Actionable Insights for the Season:
- Fix the Road Woes: Santos hasn't won a meaningful away game in months. Until they can grind out a 1-0 win in places like Puebla or Querétaro, they are not a playoff team.
- Give Picón the Minutes: Kevin Picón, returning from Sporting Gijón, is the kind of young energy the team needs. Relying solely on the veterans like Güemez (who is 34) isn't working for the full 90.
- Focus on the First 15: In both Clausura 2026 games, Santos has looked shaky in the opening minutes. Tightening up the early-game concentration is the simplest fix for their conceding problem.
The talent is in the building. The money has been spent. Now, it's just about whether these individuals can actually play like a team.