Cruz Azul secured a narrow 1-0 home victory over Puebla in a Liga MX encounter on January 18, 2026. The late kick-off at the Estadio Azteca was decided by a solitary goal, maintaining Cruz Azul's strong home form. La Máquina likely dominated possession but found a stubborn Puebla defense difficult to penetrate. The breakthrough finally came, possibly from a set-piece or a moment of magic from an attacker, to the relief of the home fans. Puebla offered a threat on the counter but could not find an equalizer. This result allowed Cruz Azul to keep pace with the league leaders, cementing their position in the top four. For Puebla, a disciplined performance yielded no points, leaving them in a precarious position in the lower half of the table.