- Mineros are in good shape, if not great, with their results better than their preseason showing.
- Correcaminos are a work in progress under Gabriel Pereyra, but did lose 2-1 to Pachuca.
- Mineros are the superior club and beat Correcaminos 3-1 in Clausura 2026.
Miners and Correcaminos clash in Apertura opener
The new Liga de Expansion MX Apertura 2026 season gets underway this Saturday and two clubs who will be desperate to set the tone early on will be Mineros De Zacatecas and Correcaminos when they meet in Zacatecas.
Both clubs will be hoping to establish a quick foothold in the top six and make a strong push for the liguilla, but this preview suggests it should be a tough game.
Mineros are the favourites at 1.53, with Correcaminos at 5.3 and the draw at 4.33, so the early market is already leaning toward the hosts.
But the home team have the edge and the head-to-head record and their 3-1 Clausura 2026 victory over Correcaminos supports a home victory here.
Mineros make more sense as home favorites
Luis Muñoz's men arrive in this opener in decent shape, although they were hammered 4-0 at Atlético de San Luis in their preseason build-up. However, they finished in the upper half of the Clausura, roughly around 6th, while Correcaminos languished lower down in the standings, around 14th, so the home side make more appeal here and the Mineros De Zacatecas vs Correcaminos prediction also points in that direction.
Mineros are a steady beat, compact and well-organised within the 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 shape that Muñoz deploys, while Correcaminos are a little more chaotic, but in a good way. Gabriel Pereyra has introduced a high-intensity, pressing style to his new team that will see them press high up the pitch and attempt to force turnovers.
But this should leave plenty of room for Mineros to spring counters and they are more than capable of taking advantage. Their tempo is better, their spine is strong and they have the players to hurt Correcaminos on the counter.
Tight game looks likely with goals
Andrés 'Chato' Ávila is their midfield metronome, providing the ball and the runs from deep, while Mauro Pérez offers the team's cutting edge in the striker role, finishing the 2025/26 cycle as one of the most reliable goal threats in the division.
Correcaminos have Nahúm Gómez to create a buzz in the attacking third, whether deployed in attacking midfield or on the wing where he can drive at his opponents and provide goals, assists or runs into the box.
Edson Reséndez is also a live wire in goal and his saves and penalty stop in preseason have given Correcaminos something to play with on their big day. Tomás Sandoval has emerged as the focal point of Pereyra's attack and his preseason scoring record suggests he can be a threat in the box, which is why the prediction remains focused on a match with chances at both ends.
So goals should be on the cards here with the game likely to be won in the transitions, rather than the weather. Over 2.5 goals at 1.62 and both teams to score at 1.7 are suitable bets for a game that is likely to be open and tense.
A 2-1 Mineros win feels the sharpest of the correct score bets, although a 1-0 home win or even a scrappy draw are still live if the new-look Correcaminos press clicks and forces its way through.
