SAN NICOLÁS DE LOS GARZA, MEXICO — Ángel Correa produced a virtuoso performance as Tigres UANL dismantled Santos Laguna 5-1 at Estadio Universitario, with the Argentine playmaker involved in four of his side's five goals in a Mexican Liga BBVA MX masterclass. The hosts seized control early and never relented, turning the contest into a procession as Santos' defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed.
The opening exchanges hinted at the onslaught to come when Correa's 23rd-minute effort from the center of the box forced a sharp save from Santos goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo. The warning went unheeded. Just 17 minutes later, Joaquim broke the deadlock with a close-range header, meeting Correa's pinpoint cross following a corner to nod home and set Tigres on their way.
The floodgates threatened to open immediately. Within three minutes, Iván López doubled the advantage with another header from very close range, this time converting Juan Brunetta's headed assist to leave Santos reeling at 2-0. The visitors briefly steadied themselves and found a lifeline in the 36th minute when Lucas Di Yorio slotted home from the center of the box, finishing Ramiro Sordo's perfectly weighted through ball to halve the deficit and inject hope into Santos' afternoon.
That hope proved fleeting. Tigres dominated possession with an iron grip, controlling 72.1% of the ball and pinning Santos deep in their own half for extended periods. The hosts peppered Carlos Acevedo's goal with 20 shots compared to Santos' meager eight, and the statistical dominance translated into territorial suffocation. Diego Lainez tormented the Santos backline with his movement and creativity, while Correa pulled the strings from deeper positions, constantly finding pockets of space to hurt the visitors.
The second half began with Tigres hunting a third goal to kill the contest. They found it through the most clinical of routes in the 62nd minute when Correa stepped up to convert a penalty with a composed right-footed finish to the center of the goal. The spot-kick was awarded after VAR intervention confirmed Ramiro Sordo's handball in the penalty area, and Correa made no mistake to restore the two-goal cushion at 3-1.
Santos attempted to mount some resistance, with Sordo forcing a fine save from Nahuel Guzmán in the 64th minute, but Tigres' defensive organization remained largely untroubled. The hosts registered seven shots on target to Santos' three, and when opportunities arose, Guzmán was equal to the task with two crucial saves to preserve his side's commanding advantage.
The final 20 minutes became a showcase for Tigres' attacking depth and quality. Diego Lainez, who had been a constant menace, finally got his reward in the 73rd minute with a sublime left-footed strike from outside the box that arrowed into the bottom right corner. Correa turned provider once more, assisting Lainez's effort to make it 4-1 and effectively end any lingering Santos resistance.
The scoring wasn't finished. In the 79th minute, substitute Diego Sánchez applied the coup de grâce with a right-footed finish from very close range to the high center of the goal, converting Ozziel Herrera's assist to complete the rout at 5-1. By this stage, Santos looked a beaten side, their defensive shape disintegrating under wave after wave of Tigres attacks.
The match statistics painted a picture of complete dominance. Beyond the lopsided possession and shot counts, Tigres enjoyed four corners to Santos' solitary one, demonstrating their territorial superiority. The visitors' frustration manifested in 15 fouls compared to Tigres' 12, with Santos collecting three yellow cards including a late booking for Kevin Picón in the 87th minute. Tigres' lone yellow card reflected their control and composure throughout.
Individual performances told the story of the afternoon. Correa's masterclass featured a goal, a penalty conversion, and two assists, but his overall play elevated those around him. Lainez's pace and trickery caused constant problems, while Brunetta's creativity in midfield provided another dimension. For Santos, Di Yorio's goal offered a brief moment of quality, but the collective defensive collapse left Carlos Acevedo exposed repeatedly despite making two saves.
The tactical battle was decidedly one-sided. Tigres' high press forced Santos into errors, while their patient build-up play stretched the visitors' defensive lines. Fernando Gorriarán controlled the midfield tempo alongside his teammates, and when Tigres won possession, they transitioned with devastating speed. Santos' attempts to play through Tigres' press rarely succeeded, and their direct approach yielded little against Joaquim and the home defense.
The result extends Tigres' excellent recent form, with this victory following a strong run that has seen them establish themselves as genuine contenders. For Santos, this represents a fourth consecutive away defeat, a worrying trend that has seen them concede freely on their travels. The visitors' defensive fragility was laid bare, and questions will be asked about their ability to compete against the division's elite sides.
The emphatic nature of the victory will boost Tigres' confidence as they continue their campaign, while Santos face serious soul-searching about their defensive organization and away-day mentality. The five-goal margin could have been even greater had Tigres converted more of their 20 attempts, a testament to their attacking prowess and Santos' vulnerability.
The afternoon belonged entirely to the hosts, who delivered a statement performance that showcased their quality across all areas of the pitch. From Guzmán's solid goalkeeping to Correa's creative brilliance and the clinical finishing throughout, Tigres demonstrated why they remain among Liga BBVA MX's most formidable sides. Santos, meanwhile, must quickly address their defensive issues if they hope to arrest this alarming slide.
This victory caps a fine run for Tigres before their next assignment, while Santos have little time to dwell on this heavy defeat as they prepare for their upcoming fixture.