Puebla and Necaxa, two teams mired in the lower half of the Liga MX standings, fought to a 0-0 draw on Friday, March 13, in a Jornada 11 match of the Clausura 2026 tournament at Estadio Cuauhtémoc.

A Battle of Underperformers

The stalemate marked a temporary pause in both clubs' recent struggles. Puebla entered the match in 10th place, holding 11 points from three wins, two draws, and five losses. They'd just fallen to Pachuca in their previous outing, looking to rebound in front of their home crowd. Necaxa, meanwhile, was in an even more precarious position at 16th, having suffered four consecutive defeats. The Rayos arrived at Estadio Cuauhtémoc desperate for any points to stop their slide.

Coached by Alberto Espigares, Puebla deployed a starting lineup featuring Daniel Gutiérrez in goal, with Nicolás Díaz, Eduardo Navarro, Juan Pablo Vargas, and Rodrigo Pachuca anchoring the defense. The midfield saw Íker Moreno, Luis Rey, Alonso Ramírez, and Kevin Velasco, while Emiliano Gómez and Édgar Guerra led the attack.

Martín Varini's Necaxa started Luis Unsain between the posts. Agustín Oliveros, Franco Rossano, Emilio Lara, and Raúl Martínez formed the backline. Kevin Gutiérrez, Daniel Leyva, Kevin Ante, and Lorenzo Faravelli patrolled the midfield, supporting forwards Javier Ruiz and Tomás Badaloni.

Red Card Shifts Dynamics

The match largely remained uneventful through the first hour, with neither side able to break the deadlock. But the dynamic changed dramatically in the 59th minute when Necaxa's Colombian midfielder, Kevin Rosero, received a straight red card. Rosero launched into a challenge with his feet high, making dangerous contact with Puebla defender Nicolás Díaz's standing foot. The referee immediately showed the red, a decision Rosero contested, but VAR confirmed it wasn't overturned.

Rosero's expulsion left Necaxa with 10 men for the remainder of the match, an unfortunate turn for a team already struggling for form. This numerical disadvantage put the Rayos under immense pressure, particularly in the closing stages. Yet, Puebla couldn't capitalize on their superior numbers. Despite creating a few dangerous opportunities, La Franja failed to convert them into a goal, leaving their fans frustrated.

Points Gained, Urgency Remains

The 0-0 draw meant both teams snapped their losing streaks, adding a single point to their tallies. Puebla now sits with 12 points, while Necaxa has 10. But the draw did little to alleviate their urgent need for victories. Necaxa, still reeling from four straight losses before this match, remains desperate for a win to climb out of the Liga MX basement.

This goalless affair marked a rare occurrence for these two clubs. It was the first time Puebla and Necaxa had drawn 0-0 in eight years, with their last such result coming in the Apertura 2008 tournament. Since then, their encounters had always featured at least one goal.

Looking Ahead for Both Squads

Both teams face tough challenges as the Clausura 2026 season progresses. Puebla will hit the road for Jornada 12, traveling to Torreón to take on Santos Laguna on Sunday, March 22. Santos currently occupies the last spot in the general standings, presenting Puebla with an opportunity to secure a much-needed victory.

Necaxa, meanwhile, will host Xolos to open Jornada 12 at home. The Rayos will be hoping their home advantage can help them finally secure three points and begin to turn their season around after a dismal run.

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The draw leaves both clubs with significant work to do to improve their league positions and avoid further slipping down the Clausura 2026 table.