Santos Laguna earned their first point of the Apertura 2026 season with a 0-0 draw against Tigres at Estadio Corona. Head coach Renato Paiva immediately made it clear there would be no celebrations, as reported by Record MX this Sunday.
The Laguneros now sit 17th in the Liga MX table with just one point from six matches, having recorded zero wins, one draw, and five losses. Their recent form is DLLLL and they possess a -7 goal difference, having scored four and conceded eleven. This result on August 30th snapped a damaging five-game losing streak, but the mood in the camp was one of dissatisfaction.
Why is the manager not satisfied?
Renato Paiva, the Portuguese manager of Santos Laguna, was blunt in his assessment. "I am not going to celebrate draws, I have never done it in my life. That is not our DNA," he stated. For Paiva, a single point at home is not enough and highlights the team's ongoing issues. He explained the poor performance was due to hasty decision-making and a lack of composure in the final third.
The group showed some nervousness, according to the coach, which prevented them from finishing dangerous plays. Paiva noted the squad is sad for failing to complete chances and score goals. This attitude aims to instill a winning mentality in a team that finds itself 15 points behind leaders Club America. The Santos Laguna 2026 squad must quickly find the cutting edge they are missing.
What is the team's current situation?
The season's numbers tell the story. With only one point from six games, Santos Laguna has the second-worst defense and the third-worst attack in the league. Their next outing is a tough one, as they visit fifth-placed Toluca on September 21st. Fans can track the full schedule on our fixtures page.
The run of one win, one draw, and three losses in their last five matches (DLLLW) indicates a slight improvement, but one that is still far from sufficient. The urgency to secure three-point hauls is paramount to avoid falling completely out of the playoff race. The standings table illustrates the scale of the challenge.
What does Santos Laguna need to change?
Paiva pinpointed the lack of composure in the final third as the main obstacle. The team created situations but failed in the finish, a pattern that must be corrected through work and confidence. The manager demands more concentration and better decisions under pressure to turn possession and effort into tangible results.
The Santos Laguna 2026 squad has the individual quality but must function as a more solid and lethal unit. The upcoming match against a direct rival in the table will be a crucial test to see if the coach's message gets through. Detailed analysis of the team's numbers is available on our stats page.
The road ahead is difficult, but the first step was to stop the losing streak. Now, the challenge is to use that point as a platform for a first win, not as a ceiling. The week's training will be key to facing the match against Toluca with a renewed mindset.
