Guadalajara delivered their most emphatic performance of the Apertura 2026 season, dismantling Tijuana 5-2 at Estadio Akron. The result was all the more striking because it came just days after the club confirmed the transfer of their leading scorer, Armando 'La Hormiga' González, to Greek side Olympiacos.
With González gone, many expected Chivas to struggle for goals. Instead, they produced a fluid, positionless attack that overwhelmed Xolos. Ricardo Marín scored twice, while Santiago Sandoval, Roberto Alvarado, and Diego Campillo also got on the scoresheet. It was a statement win that answered questions about how the team would cope without their talisman.
Weather delay and set-piece dominance
The match was delayed over two hours due to heavy rain in Zapopan, but once it got underway, Chivas took control. They pressed high and exploited Tijuana's weakness on set pieces. Youngster Santiago Sandoval opened the scoring with a close-range header from a Luis Romo flick, and Marín doubled the lead with a similar header from another corner. Just before halftime, Marín converted a penalty after Hugo Camberos was fouled in the box, giving the home side a commanding 3-0 lead.
The first half was a masterclass in aerial threat and clinical finishing, a stark contrast to the team's earlier struggles in the tournament. Prior to this match, Chivas had scored just three goals in four games. In one night, they nearly doubled that tally.
Tactical fluidity without a target man
In the second half, Chivas continued to impress with their positional rotation. Without a traditional center forward, the attacking burden was shared across midfielders and wingers. Roberto Alvarado added a fourth with a placed left-footed strike after a setup from Brian Gutiérrez, and Diego Campillo made it five during a transition play. Tijuana pulled back two late consolation goals through Elias Manoel, but the result was never in doubt.
This performance suggests that Chivas can thrive without a single focal point. The team's ability to spread scoring chances among multiple players could make them harder to defend against in the long run. As Hormiga González prepares for his Olympiacos debut, his former teammates have shown they can fill the void collectively.
The victory lifts Chivas to fourth place in the Liga MX standings with ten points. They will now face a tough away fixture against Pachuca, while Tijuana drops to sixth and will need to address their set-piece defending before hosting Pumas.
For Chivas fans, the win is a reason for optimism. The team's attacking fluidity and resilience after a key sale suggest they can remain competitive in the Apertura race. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if they can maintain this level of performance without their former star.
Meanwhile, González's move to Europe has been a talking point, with the player explaining why he chose Olympiacos over other suitors. His departure also sparked a debate about the financial realities of Liga MX, as seen in comparisons with other young talents. But for now, Chivas have shown they can move forward.
