Liga MX: Jornada 9 Apertura 2026 Preview
Jornada 9 of the Apertura 2026 features the Clásico Nacional between América and Chivas, with the top of the table at stake.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC0 / Author: FromMorningToMidnight
The regular season of the Apertura 2026 in Liga MX continues to heat up, with the ninth round promising pivotal clashes for both the top of the table and the mid-table battle. The main attraction is undoubtedly the latest edition of the Clásico Nacional between América and Chivas, to be held at the Estadio Banorte.
Chivas enters this round as the league leader with 17 points, closely pursued by Toluca and América, who sit just one point behind on 16 units each. Consequently, the outcomes of this weekend could lead to significant shifts at the very top of the standings.
The action kicks off on Friday, September 18, with Puebla facing Atlante. Later, Juárez hosts Tigres, and Atlético de San Luis takes on Necaxa. On Saturday, in addition to the highly anticipated Clásico, Atlas will face Pumas, and Monterrey will host Cruz Azul.
The weekend concludes on Sunday with Toluca playing against Santos, alongside Pachuca vs Tijuana and Querétaro vs León. With nine matches scheduled, this round is set to define the trajectory for teams fighting for playoff positioning.