The Oaxacan goalkeeper Octavio Paz Vásquez returns to Alebrijes for the Apertura 2026 after his last stint at the club in 2024. The team begins the tournament this Saturday visiting Venados de Yucatán.
The goalkeeper Octavio Paz Vásquez is back to defend the goal of Alebrijes de Oaxaca in the Apertura 2026 of the Liga de Expansión MX. The goalkeeper, who already played for the club between 2022 and 2024, joins as one of the three goalkeepers in the squad, alongside Carlos Rodas and young Mario Fuentes, who is set to make his debut in the category.
Paz, 25, was part of the youth system of Pumas de la UNAM and was included in the first team in 2021, although he did not debut in Liga MX. His first season with Alebrijes was in Apertura 2022, where he was a starter. Over four consecutive tournaments, he alternated as a starter with other goalkeepers, with his last match for the club being in Apertura 2024.
Paz's return comes in a context of few reinforcements for Alebrijes, which faces the tournament with a predominantly continuity-based squad. In addition to the goalkeeper, Brazilian Andrey Andrade (forward) and Alfonso Emilio Sánchez Castillo (midfielder) are the other familiar faces returning to the team. Andrade participated in 12 matches in Apertura 2025, five as a starter, and scored two goals. Sánchez, for his part, returns after two previous stints (the last between 2018 and 2019) and comes from Dorados de Sinaloa.
Alebrijes' debut will be this Saturday at 17:00 hours (local time) at the Estadio Carlos Iturralde Rivero, against Venados de Yucatán. The match corresponds to matchday 1 of the Apertura 2026 and will be broadcast on ESPN.
The rivalry between both teams includes 26 previous encounters, with a favourable balance for Alebrijes: 12 victories, six defeats, and eight draws. However, at Venados' home, the Oaxacans have only won twice, while the locals have achieved five victories and six draws.
The Alebrijes coach is confident that Paz's experience and the continuity of the defensive block will improve the team's solidity, which showed ups and downs in the previous tournament. Concentration and offensive effectiveness will be key to earning points from the start.
The club maintains its headquarters in Oaxaca and seeks to establish itself in the Liga de Expansión, where it aims to compete for the top positions. The return of Octavio Paz, a goalkeeper with experience in the category, brings security between the posts and leadership to a defence that needs stability.
The match against Venados will be a first test to measure the team's level, which has worked during pre-season to correct defensive errors and gain effectiveness in front of goal. The Oaxacan fans hope that the return of Paz and the other reinforcements will provide a quality boost to the team.
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