The CONCACAF Champions League provided a little respite for Pachuca from its Mexican league troubles. But only a little.

After gaining a 1-1 draw against Comunicaciones in the opening leg of the quarterfinals in Guatemala last week, Pachuca reverted to its domestic form.

The Tuzos suffered their third consecutive 3-0 loss Saturday, surrendering three second-half goals to Santos Laguna at Estadio Hidalgo. Previously, Pachuca lost to Monterrey and Pumas UNAM by the same score in the Mexican Clausura and is now winless in its last six matches.

The defeat drops Pachuca a full 10 points behind Group 2 leaders Monterrey and has further fueled speculation that coach Guillermo Rivarola will be fired. A positive result at home Tuesday night would send Pachuca to the Champions League semifinals and could give Rivarola some needed momentum.

"We are satisfied with Rivarola's process," Pachuca executive Andres Fassi said in a statement last week. "We knew the transition was not going to be easy, but we are working with people from the inside and we have to give them confidence."

In the opening leg, Pachuca took an early lead on Paul Nicholas Aguilar's goal inside of the first minute, but Comunicaciones rallied to equalize on a 73rd-minute strike from captain Rolando Fonseca.

"Comunicaciones had the momentum, the desire to face us," Rivarola said. "We knew it wasn't going to be an easy game, but we could have made it easier if we had been swifter in the final strike where we had the chance to convert one or two more goals. Unfortunately it wasn't possible. The draw works, and we have the responsibility and obligation to (win) here in Pachuca."

Pachuca will welcome back Jose Francisco Torres and Luis Arturo Montes, who both served a one-game suspension that carried over from the Group Stage.

The match at Estadio Hidalgo will no doubt be a special one for Fonseca because the Costa Rican international played for Pachuca in 1996.

"Faced with adversity, (we) did a good job," Fonseca said after the opening leg. "The tactical discipline was maintained and that allowed us to draw and, as a team, we can do something in this series."

Fonseca also struck on the weekend, helping Los Cremas forge a 2-2 draw with Xelaju in a battle for first place in the Guatemalan Clausura. Transit Montepeque also added a 45th-minute penalty kick for Comunicaciones, which remains atop the league with 21 points from 12 matches. Xelaju, which received goals from David Espinoza and Julio Estacuy, are second with 19 points.

The winner of the aggregate series will face either Toluca or the Columbus Crew in the two-leg Champions League semifinals.