Santos Laguna has bolstered its squad with two new signings this week ahead of its Liga MX match against Cruz Azul. The club officially introduced Mexican forward Esteban Lozano and Argentine midfielder Facundo Cáseres, according to its website.

The two players have already begun training with the first team at the Territorio Santos Modelo. Renato Paiva's squad held its final session there before traveling to Mexico City for Sunday's game. The Matchday 7 fixture of the Apertura 2026 is scheduled for 5:00 PM at the Estadio Banorte. Santos arrives after a 1-0 loss to the same opponent on September 6, a result that leaves them in 17th place in the standings with just one point.

Who are Santos Laguna's new players?

Esteban Lozano is a 23-year-old attacker developed in Club América's academy. He made his Liga MX debut in 2023 and had a stint in Spanish football with Sporting Atlético. Most recently, he played for Puebla FC during the Apertura 2025 and Clausura 2026 tournaments. The player has also been called up to Mexican national teams at the U-20 and U-23 levels.

Facundo Cáseres brings European experience. The Argentine midfielder, born on May 28, 2001, was developed at Vélez Sarsfield. He played in Croatia and Portugal, where he was a key piece for Gil Vicente in the 2025-26 season. He played in 29 league matches, started 27 of them, and accumulated over 2,100 minutes on the pitch. His signing aims to solidify a midfield that has conceded 12 goals in seven games, according to the tournament's stats.

How is the first team approaching the match?

Santos Laguna faces Cruz Azul during a difficult stretch of the season. The team is on a five-match winless run, with three losses and two draws. In the previous match against La Máquina, a 58th-minute goal from Gonzalo Carneiro decided the contest. Cruz Azul's manager, Joel Huiqui, commented after that victory. "We are very happy today because we recovered Gonzalo, he was on the bench, we recovered Amaury García," he told Record MX.

Huiqui added that having almost the entire squad available will be a problem for their next rival, América. For Santos, the immediate focus is on improving defensive performance. The team has the league's worst defensive record so far. You can check the team's usual lineup on our squad page.

What's on for the youth teams?

The trip to the capital also includes fixtures for the club's academy sides. The U-21 team, managed by Carlos Arturo Cruz, will face Cruz Azul U-21 on Sunday at 9:00 AM at La Noria. This team comes from a 1-0 win over Tigres and has 11 points.

Meanwhile, the U-19 side, coached by Jorge Campos, will play against Cruz Azul U-19 at 11:30 AM on the same day. The team has eight points and remains in the fight for playoff positions. These matches are important for the development of the club's young talents.

What is Santos Laguna's next fixture?

After the clash with Cruz Azul, the Guerreros will return home to host FC Juárez. That Matchday 8 fixture of the Apertura 2026 is scheduled for Monday, September 14, at the Territorio Santos Modelo. The opponent is currently in last place in the general table. The full season schedule is available in our fixtures section.