Natalia Mauleón absolutely owned the pitch on Saturday, orchestrating Club Deportivo Guadalajara’s dominant 0-4 win over Atlas in the Clásico Tapatío with an incredible three assists. It was a performance that had everyone talking, showing exactly why she’s already a critical piece for El Rebaño.
The Orchestrator on Display
Mauleón, wearing No. 14, joined Guadalajara as a reinforcement for the Apertura 2026, and while she’d shown glimpses, this game was on another level. Starting as an attacking midfielder, she played right behind Alicia Cervantes and Denise Castro in the attack, with Joseline Montoya and Jasmine Casarez working the wings. From that central offensive position, Mauleón completely took over the spotlight. Every single Guadalajara goal went through her feet, all thanks to her incredible peripheral vision, spotting moments, spaces, and movements before anyone else.
For the first goal, Mauleón orchestrated the attacking press, staying tight to the ball. After Eva González won possession, a quick touch on the reception opened up the inside lane for ‘Jas’ to make her run, leading to the finish. The second goal was just as brilliant: Natalia initiated the press again, winning the ball in the final third and creating a textbook 3-v-2 situation at the edge of the box. She patiently waited for Denise to move outside, then delivered the ball at exactly the right moment for a first-time finish.
A Hat-Trick of Masterful Setups
Her involvement continued with the third goal. Mauleón followed the play throughout, timing her run perfectly to attack the space behind the defense after ‘Licha’ laid the ball off to her. This left her alone in front of goal, where a subtle touch caused the goalkeeper and defender to bring her down. The ‘Depredadora’ converted the penalty, in what was an assist that, unfortunately for everyone, will not count in the statistics, but will remain in the memory.
To complete her hat-trick of assists, Mauleón had to repeat the formula. A high press, another ball recovery, and then a precise pass to Cervantes, who is a guaranteed goal in a one-on-one situation. Beyond the emphatic victory, the ground she covered, her handling of the ball, her control of the tempo, and her relentless press made Natalia Mauleón, by a wide margin, the best player of the Clásico Tapatío.
What a night for Mauleón. She played 86 minutes, dished out 3 assists, had 2 shots, completed 31 accurate passes, took 54 touches, and even won 7 defensive duels. Those numbers tell you everything. She is still growing in this new chapter with Chivas Femenil, and honestly, the rest of the league needs to be worried. She’s just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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