Pumas and Cruz Azul Will Look to Put On a Show in Mexico City

The Estadio Olimpico Universitario will host Week 15’s game of the week when Cruz Azul pays a visit to crosstown rival Pumas UNAM.

We are down to our last three games of the regular season, and both Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM still aspire to finish at the top of the league table. La Máquina arrive on the back of a scoreless draw with Club América and currently sit third in the league table with 27 points. On the other hand, Pumas UNAM notched a gritty 1-0 win away to Xolos de Tijuana and is just one point behind the Cementeros, in fourth place with 26 points.

Pumas vs Cruz Azul Game Center

Cruz Azul has looked vulnerable away from the Estadio Azteca

Let’s start off by saying Cruz Azul has been on cruise control for some time now. To say Cruz Azul is in trouble after dropping from first to third in a matter of two weeks would simply be an exaggeration. That said, it is a bit worrying how poorly the team has done away from home in recent weeks. At least in Liga MX, La Máquina have lost each of their last three games, and their only road victory this season came against Chivas Guadalajara, which isn’t really saying much considering how poor the Rojiblancos are when playing at home. It is not something to panic about, but definitely something to keep an eye out for against a tough Pumas team.

Pumas UNAM is starting to look like the real deal

If it’s streaks we are talking about, we have to give a lot of credit to Pumas, which has been among the most consistent teams over the last two months. So much so that the perception of the team has changed from one that looked vulnerable to midseason collapses to that of a genuine contender for the league title. At the moment, the Universitarios are enjoying a run of eight straight Liga MX games without a defeat and have the second-best offense with 26 goals scored.

The catch here is Pumas has been far from brilliant at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario. In fact, Pumas has just one win in its last five Liga MX home matches. That sole victory was against lowly Lobos BUAP.

OVER betters have plenty to be optimistic about

OVER bettors have plenty to be excited about heading into this match. There is a Liga MX stereotype that Pumas home games are the most boring games in the league, given that the weather conditions of Mexico City and the 12 p.m. start time make it difficult for opposing teams to play attractive football. But that hasn’t been the case this season. Each of Pumas’s last four Liga MX games have had more than three goals scored and a combined average of 5.3 goals scored per game. In total, the OVER has hit in four of the six games Pumas UNAM has hosted this season.

Furthermore, this game has been on the end of some highly entertaining encounters at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario. Three of the last five meetings between these two teams in Pumas’s stadium have hit the OVER, with Cruz Azul scoring at least twice in each one of those three affairs.

My pick:

My gut feeling tells me that both teams will go out to win the game but ultimately settle for a high-scoring draw. This is the kind of game that is hard to predict, and it could really end up going either way, especially in the derby-like environment both teams will experience at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario.