Goalless Draw Opens Liga MX Season in Queretaro

SANTIAGO DE QUERETARO, Mexico (Interstat) — The opening match of the 2026 Liga MX Clausura season concluded in a scoreless stalemate Sunday as Queretaro and visiting Pachuca fought to a 0-0 draw at Estadio La Corregidora.

The match, which defied pregame projections of a higher-scoring affair, was ultimately defined by defensive resolve and late-game chaos that saw two players ejected in second-half stoppage time.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 final, while its ELO rating system gave Pachuca a narrow 51.4 percent probability of victory. Neither forecast accounted for the disciplined, if sometimes frantic, defending that prevented either side from finding a breakthrough.

The contest’s most significant offensive contributions came from unlikely sources off the bench. Queretaro substitute Sergio Rodríguez provided a key assist, while Pachuca substitute Luis Quiñónes also recorded an assist. Queretaro defender Lucas Abascia added an assist from his defensive position. Despite these creative sparks, neither attack could convert chances into a decisive goal.

Discipline frayed as the match progressed. Quiñónes received the first yellow card in the 54th minute. Rodríguez was booked in the 85th minute as tensions rose.

The game erupted in a tumultuous close as stoppage time descended into disorder. In the 90th+2 minute, Pachuca’s Santiago Homenchenko was shown a red card, forcing the visitors to finish the match with 10 men. The disadvantage was short-lived, however, as Queretaro’s Carlos Moreno was also sent off in the 90th+9 minute, leveling the sides at 10 players each. Abascia then received a yellow card in the 90th+10 minute amid the fractious finale.

The result leaves both teams with identical records to start the new Liga MX campaign. Each side now holds a record of 0 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw in the competition. Their overall records across all competitions for the season also stand at 0-0-1.

The shared point offers a modest foundation for both clubs as they move forward in the tournament. The defensive performances, particularly in weathering the late-game dismissals, provided a positive takeaway, but the lack of finishing in the final third will be a primary concern for each manager.