Chivas stayed at the top of the Liga MX table even after a 4-1 loss to Tigres, and now turns quickly to Puebla on Saturday, April 18, at Estadio Akron. Daniel Aguirre scored Chivas’s only goal in the defeat, which ended a five-match unbeaten run.
The timing matters because Chivas still has three regular-season matches left and is trying to protect first place so it can host second-leg Liguilla matches at home. The meeting with Puebla comes against an opponent that lost 0-1 at home to León last week and has not won since March 4.
Gabriel Milito’s side had last lost before Tigres when Toluca beat them at home, a reminder that the margin at the top remains thin. Puebla, coached by Spaniard Albert Espigares, has three losses and two draws since March 4 and is already eliminated from contention.
The pressure on Chivas is not limited to the table. Raúl Rangel, Brian Gutiérrez, Roberto Alvarado and Armando González are among the players who could be called up for Mexico’s 2026 World Cup squad, which could affect the roster before the regular season is over.
For Chivas, the task is simple but unforgiving: beat Puebla, keep first place, and avoid turning one heavy loss into a wider slide.