GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- Chivas defeated Monterrey 1-0 on Saturday in Estadio Chivas, with Nestor Calderon netting the only goal in the second round of regular-season matches in the Liga MX's Apertura 2016.
Here's a look at the three biggest talking points from the match:
1. Calderon saves Chivas with sweet volley
This was a big night for Chivas, with their in-house TV station showing the match live in Mexico for the first time. A performance against one of the Liga MX's strongest squads was required and the Rebano Sagrado came away with a deserved victory.
The hero was new signing Calderon. The former Santos Laguna player found himself free on the edge of the penalty area in the 67th minute and a loose ball looped towards him. Calderon didn't think twice. He couldn't have hit the ball any sweeter to send the 39,810 fans inside Estadio Chivas wild.
Chivas had 64 percent possession and the better of the game against last season's Clausura finalists. Even if this wasn't a classic display, it was a good three points against a very good Rayados side.
Chivas' squad is strong this Apertura. The Guadalajara club should be reaching the playoffs, but there is one glaring weakness that was evident on Saturday: the center-forward position. Its occupant against Monterrey was Angel Zaldivar. He is a young player who could go on to have a bright future, but he isn't the finished product and is unlikely to go out and get eight or 10 goals this season.
The sale of legend Omar Bravo on the eve of the Apertura has loaded the weight of expectation onto his young shoulders. That pressure could be seen in the 73rd minute when Zaldivar struck over the crossbar with the goal wide open.
Calderon's strike diverted the conversation away from Chivas' problems upfront, but it is unlikely to be the last we hear of them this season.
2. Monterrey still in preseason
Lacking the inventiveness of suspended Colombian Edwin Cardona, Monterrey were flat. Players looked tired in the second half and there was no notable reaction from the team when it went behind. It is difficult to think of any genuine chance for Monterrey over the 90 minutes, which is scandalous considering the talent in the squad.
Coach Antonio Mohamed's 4-4-2 has tactical elements of Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid about it. The distance between each line is minimal, the wide midfielders Carlos Sanchez and Arturo Gonzalez cut inside to bunch the middle of the field. There is also a physicality about Monterrey's play.
But Simeone's Atleti pose a genuine threat going forward while Monterrey's partnership of Rogelio Funes Mori and Aldo de Nigris up front looked labored and static.
Chivas' central defensive duo Carlos Salcido and Jair Pereira -- not exactly the quickest pair in the league -- coped comfortably.
A reaction from Rayados will be required next Saturday at home to Cruz Azul because this was a long way from the standard Monterrey's fans rightly expect.
#PorSiNoLoViste G⚽⚽⚽L de Néstor Calderón@Chivas 1-0 @Rayados#J2AP2016 #LIGABancomerMX
⚽ #SienteTuLiga ⚽ pic.twitter.com/3QsRxcCQWW- LIGA Bancomer MX (@LIGABancomerMX) July 24, 2016
3. Chivas need Pena back to his best
Carlos Pena isn't the stereotypical Mexican player. Robust, technically not very gifted and with a good sense of timing, Pena gets into the right places, and is one of the most eye-catching players in the Liga MX because of his directness. He gets the ball, puts his head down and charges towards goal. But, right now, Pena is lacking confidence.
Against Monterrey, a fully-confident Pena would've scored at least once in the first half. There was a chance in the second minute that the former Leon player curled the wrong side of the post and at least two other decent opportunities during the match.
Pena hasn't really been the same since missing a penalty against Club America in the Clausura 2016 quarterfinal and that showed in last weekend's 1-0 loss to Pumas, in which Pena saw another half-hearted penalty effort saved. Almeyda took Pena off just after the hour mark and there were a few boos from the stands of the Estadio Chivas.
Those boos will surely turn to cheers and Pena will come good though. The positive sign is that he's still wanting the ball and not shirking responsibility. But his return to form can't come soon enough for Chivas: The 26-year-old is the team's most attacking important player.