Guadalajara has a twist for tonight. Minutes before kickoff at Estadio Akron, I can confirm Gabriel Milito has brought back a key Chivas striker to the matchday squad for the Liga MX Clausura 2026 clash with Querétaro. The plan changes with one name on the team sheet. The home bench just got louder.
Breaking team news, and why it matters
Milito wants control, quick pressure, and cleaner final-third decisions. The returning forward gives him a target who links play and finishes chances. Expect a front three that can press high, then drop to combine with the midfield. It is a safety net and a weapon.
With the striker available, Chivas can lean into a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3. The nine can pin center backs. Wingers like Roberto Alvarado can attack inside space. Fullbacks push and deliver early. Midfielders, led by Víctor Guzmán and Fernando Beltrán, have a cleaner outlet. If the forward comes off the bench, the game can tilt late.
Chivas have listed their returning striker in the squad. He is fit to feature, even if he does not start.
Querétaro must adjust. Their back line now has to respect runs behind. Their midfield cannot cheat wide. One slip in marking, and Akron roars.
What it means on the field
Milito drills structure. First pass forward, second pass secure, then speed. That is the pattern. With a true nine, Chivas can play to feet or into space. The penalty area becomes busier. Set pieces gain edge, near post flicks and back post taps are back on the menu.
Querétaro arrive with discipline. They are stubborn in a mid block. They do not waste the ball after a steal. Their wingers burst at pace. Their striker attacks the near channel. Watch their timing on counters. One clean vertical ball can flip the field. They will target Chivas when the fullbacks are high.
The small battles will decide it. Can Chivas stop the first outlet pass after losing the ball. Can Querétaro’s center backs win the second ball against a fresh nine. Those answers decide the night.
The weight of Akron, and the history that still lingers
Estadio Akron carries a memory. Querétaro wins in Zapopan are rare, and when they come, they sting. Draws have happened, yes, but the building usually belongs to Chivas. The sound matters here. Drums and flags push the press a step higher. The pace of the game rises in short bursts, then calm returns.
This is also about identity. Chivas, with their Mexican core, carry a pride that tightens focus at home. A returning striker in this setting can turn tension into belief. Querétaro know the script, absorb, survive, and strike. Tonight, the first goal may feel like two.
How to watch and when to tune in
Kickoff is scheduled for the evening, local time in Zapopan. Stadium gates are open, and the warmups start soon. The home broadcast carries full pregame and postgame coverage. Fans outside Mexico can watch on a major Spanish-language network and its companion streaming platform. Digital radio calls are live now.
For your exact channel and stream link, use the official club app, team site match center, or your TV provider’s guide.
Culture check, and a pulse from the tunnel
Energy inside Akron is confident, not cocky. You can feel it at pitch level. Milito’s staff ran finishing drills with pace. Crosses were flat and early, bodies arriving in waves. Querétaro’s group moved as a unit, step by step, keeping distances tight. They have a clear plan to slow the middle and break wide.
Four keys I am watching
- The first 15 minutes, can Chivas pin Querétaro deep and cash in.
- Set pieces at both ends, service quality will decide margins.
- Midfield duels, Beltrán’s tempo against a rugged visiting core.
- The bench, the returning nine as a late-game closer.
Weather is clear and the pitch looks quick. Expect a fast ball and sharper touches.
The bottom line
This is a real chance for Chivas to grab momentum in the Clausura 2026. The surprise return under Milito sharpens the attack and steadies the plan. Querétaro have stolen points here before, but it took near-perfect discipline. Tonight, Akron leans red and white. One timely finish could turn that lean into a surge. Keep it here. I will have starting elevens and live moments as the teams walk out.
