Atletico San Luis kicked off the week with a commanding 4-0 win over Sporting de San José of Costa Rica at Ciudad Deportiva La Presa, the final rehearsal before the 2026 Apertura.

How did the friendly unfold?

Coach Diego Mejía started Andrés Sánchez, Eduardo Águila, Robson Bambu, Aldo Cruz, Román Torres, Óscar Macías, Sébastien Salles‑Lamonge, Ronaldo Nájera, Lucas Esteves, Santiago Muñoz and Leonardo Flores. The first half stayed scoreless, but the second half turned the tide. David Rodríguez opened the scoring, Marcelo Rangel added a goal, and Rafael Llorente netted a brace, sealing the 4‑0 win in the final 45 minutes. Llorente’s first goal arrived in the 78th minute, followed by his second in the 86th, cementing the victory.

What does Joao Pedro’s injury mean?

After the final whistle, French forward Sébastien Salles‑Lamonge announced that Joao Pedro, the team’s attacking lynchpin, suffered a torn knee ligament and will miss the entire tournament. “It’s a hard blow for us. We know these things happen in football, but we stay with him every day,” Salles‑Lamonge said. The club will need to reshuffle its attack, giving minutes to players like Llorente and Rodríguez, who have already shown scoring ability.

What are the players saying about the preparation?

Midfielder David Rodríguez highlighted the value of friendlies: “The friendly matches have helped us get better together. They’re not official, but they get us ready.” His comment underscores how these games fine‑tune tactics and team chemistry ahead of the official debut against Cruz Azul on July 17 at 19:00.

What’s next for Atletico San Luis?

The next challenge is a friendly versus Mineros de Zacatecas on Friday July 10 at Estadio Libertad Financiera. After that, the club will face champion Cruz Azul in its first official Apertura 2026 match. With morale high after the 4‑0 win and the need to cover Pedro’s absence, coach Mejía will aim to keep the momentum and adjust the forward line to compete at the top level.

Atletico San Luis displayed solid offensive firepower and a tight defense in this friendly, sending a clear message to the league: it is ready to fight for top spots, despite losing its star striker.