Alejandro Zendejas reappeared with America in Liga MX after a four-game absence, to guide the Eagles to a 1-0 victory over Monterrey, On a night marred by an apparent muscle injury to the Mexican-American that would prevent him from playing in the classic vs. Chivas.

The Eagles looked different with Zendejas, especially since he's the one providing the inventiveness and danger up front, showing that the 264th edition of the Clasico Nacional at Chivas' home ground will be a back-and-forth affair. If they can't recover, it will be a very hard blow for Jardine's team in their quest for their 100th victory in the history of Mexico's biggest football rivalry.

The Americanista squad thus secured their third consecutive victory, two in Liga MX against Necaxa and Monterrey, and their third against Olimpia of Honduras. This puts them in a more comfortable position compared to their first three games, where they failed to win or score any goals.

The result doesn't reflect the true nature of the match, as Luis "Mochis" Cardenas, the Rayados' goalkeeper, emerged as the star of his team, denying at least three goals.

The Americanista squad showed great promise, and the Eagles' offense seemed to be back to their old ways. America also recovered one of its key players, Henry Martin, who played 65 minutes, surpassing his first appearance of the season against Necaxa, where he only played 45 minutes after a four-month absence. Under these circumstances, the Eagles showed they will be a tough nut to crack for Chivas in the Clasico Nacional, especially if Zendejas' injury was just a false alarm and he could be available against Gabriel Milito's team in a match that, despite being played on Friendship Day, already looks set to be anything but friendly.

So the match against Rayados was simply revenge for their elimination in the quarterfinals of the previous tournament, thanks to German Berterame's goal. Berterame, now with Inter Miami, was missed tonight as his replacement, Serbian Uros Durdevic,wasn't yet fully fit. This was evident in the end, as in the second half, apart from the final minutes, they never threatened Luis Malagon's goal.