Why have Rayados conceded so many goals?

Data from Fotmob, Wyscout and Golstats. Photo from El Universal.

Thought: The ability to adjust and adapt defensive organization, depending on the opponent and game phase, is a key part of a team’s effectiveness out of possession.

Right now, it’s uncertain whether Martín Demichelis will continue as Monterrey head coach or not, with plenty of conflicting media reports. What is certain, is that whoever the coach is, they need to improve Monterrey’s defense to win titles. After 11 games, Necaxa (with 20) are the only team in the top-12 places that have conceded more goals than Los Rayados (17), and Vancouver scored twice in Torreón to knock Monterrey out of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. What’s going wrong, and how can they improve?

Problems in goal and set-pieces

In the short-term, a goalkeeper’s performances can have a huge impact on results. Esteban Andrada made some errors at the start of the season, and Demichelis took the decision to change his starter and play with Luis Cárdenas. However, Cárdenas has also received slightly more goals than would be expected, given the shots he’s faced (according to the xG post-shot model).

Taking into account Andrada’s performance level historically, and his ability to come off his line and intercept crosses, it perhaps would’ve been a better decision to have kept confidence in the Argentine keeper.

Monterrey have also suffered at set-pieces this season, with no side letting-in more goals from these situations during Clausura 2025. Whilst there’s room for improvement, their xG against at set-pieces isn’t too high, therefore it seems that Monterrey won’t continue to receive so many goals from corners and free-kicks going forwards. However, a goalkeeper that can intercept crosses, like Andrada, could help.

A weakness in the low block

Whilst the goalkeepers haven’t helped and set-pieces have contributed, this doesn’t completely explain Monterrey’s defensive weaknesses. Their overall defensive performance levels don’t compare well to the best sides in Liga MX.

The table below shows how Rayados rank in key defensive metrics this season. The press has actually been rather effective, and they rank high in PPDA (permitted passes per defensive action), opposition pass success and the number of final third entries against. The weakness seems to come from the low block, plus when opponents can break the press or counter-attack. Opposing sides have frequently turned final third possessions into box entries, have had success when crossing into the box, and have created high quality chances (xG per shot against).

Adjusting and protecting the defensive line

Many teams try to create superiorities in attack by committing more players forwards and preparing different movements and rotations. For example, Cruz Azul and Necaxa attack with six at times, with wing-backs high and a midfielder than can arrive into the box, whilst América and Toluca have attacking full-backs that can play like wingers in-possession, allowing their wide attackers (like Alexis Vega and Alejandro Zendejas) to drift inside and find space.

Therefore, it’s important to have flexibility in a defensive structure, to be able to adjust depending on the opposition’s system, movements and rotations. A highly rigid and zonal system would likely leave sides with numerical inferiority in defense and wouldn’t effectively mark opponents in dangerous positions.

As a result, it’s common to see teams that use a back-four on paper creating a back-five in their low block, to mark movements, avoid numerical inferiority and reduce the space in the seam between the centre-back and full-back. The most frequent method of adjusting to defend with five is having a winger drop back, defending their flank.

Zendejas (red) drops into the defensive line, and Kevin Álvarez (blue) becomes a wide centre-back. Vega’s movement inside can be covered without leaving the wing open for the arrival of Jesús Gallardo (left-back).

It seems that Monterrey don’t have the required profiles of wide attackers in order to create these adaptations and defend with a back-five. Rayados have mostly played with a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 this season, with Sergio Canales, Jesús “Tecatito” Corona and Lucas Ocampos their wide options. Canales and Ocampos don’t defend much in their own-half, and whilst Corona can drop back and has played as a full-back before, he hasn’t shown much intensity out of possession since returning to Liga MX.

Darker blue = More defensive actions in the zone

Red bar = Fewer defensive actions versus the average Liga MX attacking midfielder

Therefore, the holding midfielder has the responsibility of creating balance, and dropping to help the defensive line.

Their defensive midfielder, Jorge “Corcho” Rodríguez or Fidel Ambriz, normally plays close to the defensive line in Monterrey’s 4-1-4-1 shape out of possession, and can drop-in at times. However, whether due to a lack of; instructions, clarity over their role, or awareness of threats to the back-line, they’ve often been unable to create a back-five and help to mark inside the box.

This is a good example against Cruz Azul, who completed 40% of their crosses during the match. Rodríguez needs to drop a few meters to help marking, and therefore right-back Ricardo Chávez has to mark centrally, leaving Carlos Rotondi open at the far-post.

From the previous jornada against Santos, Stefan Medina jumps to press Santos’ striker, who finds a teammate on the left. Ambriz was attracted to the ball and doesn’t cover the space left by Medina. Fortunately for Rayados, the cross wasn’t accurate.

Monterrey have also lacked coverage from their holding midfielder when the opponent arrives in a cut-back position. It’s important to position a defender in front of the centre-back in these situations, and with Rodríguez (in blue) far from the ball, Alexis Vega can attack the space in front of Medina.

Furthermore, a lack of mobility from Corcho and Ambriz has been part of their problems, especially when they’re required to cover more space. This example comes from a Necaxa counter-attack, with the quicker José Paradela getting in-behind Rodríguez and into a dangerous shooting position, after playing a pass into the box.

However, the holding midfielders can’t take all of the blame. The interior midfielders can be too rigid in their positioning, maintaining the 4-1-4-1 structure rather than adjusting to mark opponents. Rodríguez has a tough situation here, versus Atlas. He should mark the opponent closer to the goal (Jeremy Márquez, in orange, who ends up scoring), but he’s isolated and also has to keep an eye on the free player in-front.

At times, the defensive midfielder has to jump, and the “number eights” don’t help to cover central space. This situation comes before Ousamma Idrissi’s goal. Observe Rodríguez (in blue) behind the midfield four, which is almost in a straight line, and left interior midfielder (Óliver Torres) doesn’t have a marking responsibility.

Corcho jumping to the right opens space in the centre, that Óliver should be covering. But he sticks to his zone and shows little effort to help in front of his defensive line. Idrissi is able to complete the wall pass, and has space to shoot and score.

Monterrey’s squad is fairly old, eight of their 14 outfield players with more than 300 minutes this season are 29 or older, and that list doesn’t include Sergio Ramos. Therefore, it may not be possible to create a team that can consistently press high with intensity and also work backwards to help the low block. The adjustments may also be too complicated in a 4-1-4-1, and switching to a 4-2-3-1 could quickly provide better cover for the defensive line.

Whoever is in charge of Monterrey going forwards, they have to find a way of improving defensive marking and reducing the amount of dangerous chances conceded. Adjusting and clarifying the roles of the midfield three, being more aware of opposition movements rather than just marking zonally, and creating a more flexible defensive approach, are all key to Rayados achieving this.