Atlas wrapped up its preseason with a 4-3 friendly loss to Puebla on Friday, July 10, in a closed‑door match at the Academy. The result wasn’t ideal, but Argentine coach Diego Cocca used the four 40‑minute periods to test new signings and fine‑tune the system before the Apertura 2026.

What happened in the friendly?

The Zorros hosted Puebla and the score swung quickly. Sergio Hernández opened the scoring for Atlas, but Rivaldo Lozano and José Martín answered before halftime, leaving it 3-2. Puebla equalised and then clinched a 4-3 win in the final minutes of the fourth period. The game gave minutes to the newcomers and allowed observation of player chemistry.

How does this affect Atlas ahead of the Apertura?

Although the defeat doesn’t count in the standings, the performance highlights areas Cocca must polish. The defence gave up four goals, indicating a need for tighter organization before facing León on July 19. Meanwhile, the attacking output of Hernández, Lozano and Martín provides rotation options for the tournament.

What do the current stats say?

In the league, Atlas sits sixth with 26 points, 7 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses from 17 games, and its recent form is LLWDW. The side has scored 16 goals and conceded 18, a -2 goal difference. They are 5 points behind leaders Sacachispas. The next international fixture is an away match against Columbus Crew on August 4.

What’s next for the Zorros?

After the friendly, the squad will keep training at the Academy, focusing on defensive solidity and integrating the new signings. Cocca has said the final days before the Apertura are key for polishing tactical details. The official debut arrives against León at 19:00, and fans are eager to see if the preseason tweaks translate into better results.