Monterrey take all three points from Atlas in Apertura clash
Monterrey completed a comfortable away victory at Atlas with a 2:0 win in the third round of Liga MX's Apertura tournament. Diego Rossi opened the scoring in the twenty-eighth minute before Lucas Ocampos added a penalty deep into stoppage time. The result moves Monterrey further clear of trouble while Atlas drop points at home.
Rossi's finish came after some probing from the visitors, who controlled more of the tempo despite Atlas having their moments. The home side pressed high but Monterrey worked the channels effectively, creating space between the lines. By then Atlas were chasing the game, which changed how they approached their build-up play.
The second half brought a flurry of cards that complicated matters further. Duk picked up a red card in the seventy-first minute, leaving Atlas with ten men for the final twenty minutes. Two more dismissals followed in the closing moments as both Valenzuela and Salcedo were sent off in quick succession.
The statistics tell a straightforward story about who dominated the match. Monterrey created three big chances against Atlas's none, and their expected goals tally of 1.82 reflected that superiority. Atlas managed only one shot on target while the visitors hit the frame four times, so the scoreline was fair enough.
Atlas remain fifth with fourteen points from eight games after this defeat, while Monterrey sit eleventh with nine points from seven matches. The visitors had shown vulnerability in recent outings but this performance suggested they are finding their feet. Three points away from home is a positive sign for their campaign.
What stands out is how the game shifted after the first goal. Atlas pushed forward in search of an equaliser but found themselves exposed, particularly with eleven men in the closing stages. The penalty that sealed the result came after sustained pressure, and Ocampos made no mistake from the spot.
Monterrey will take confidence from their ability to control possession and create quality chances against a side sitting above them in the table. Atlas need to regroup quickly if they want to maintain their push for the upper reaches of the standings.