James's Performance in León's Match Against Santos Laguna: A Mixed Bag

James Rodríguez returned as a starter but struggled to make a significant impact in León’s loss to Santos Laguna. The Colombian midfielder, donning the number 10 jersey and the captain’s armband, didn’t shine as in previous matches. However, he was sharp with his passes, setting up teammates in scoring positions. His first notable moment came in the 11th minute with a long-range shot that Santos Laguna’s goalkeeper managed to deflect.

At the 25-minute mark, James lost the ball in midfield, nearly leading to a goal for the hosts as the ball eventually hit the crossbar. Just two minutes later, Rodríguez found the net with a shot inside the area following a left-wing cross—but his effort was ruled out for a narrow offside. Near the end of the first half, James delivered a brilliant through ball that found Jhonder Cádiz unmarked. Cádiz entered the box, unleashing a shot that was parried away by goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo.

In the second half, James’s influence waned in León’s attacking play. He was substituted in the 72nd minute after his teammate Adonis Frías was sent off.