Necaxa pulled off a surprise 3-1 away victory over Santos Laguna in their Liga MX opener on January 11, 2026, at the Estadio Corona. The visitors were clinical in front of goal, capitalizing on their chances to stun the hosts and claim a vital three points on the road. Santos Laguna started brightly and took an early lead, seemingly in control. However, Necaxa responded with two quick goals before halftime to completely shift the momentum. The second half saw Santos push for an equalizer, but Necaxa sealed the win with a breakaway goal in the final minutes. This match result was a significant upset in the context of the league table, giving Necaxa a perfect start and leaving Santos with early concerns. The Santos manager was critical of his team's defensive lapses, while the Necaxa coach hailed his players' character and execution. The starting XIs suggested a close game, but Necaxa's efficiency proved to be the decisive factor.