Following arguably their biggest win of the season, Pumas UNAM takes on the hottest team in Liga MX right now, Club León.
Pumas UNAM is in dreamland. After more than three years without a win over rival Club América, the Universitarios earned a shock 1-0 win over the defending champions to stay unbeaten under new manager Bruno Marioni. Pumas, however, will now be tasked with taking on what many are calling the surprise team of the tournament. León arrives to this match on the back of four straight victories and is currently third in the Liga MX standings with 14 points.
- Five of Pumas UNAM’s last seven Liga MX matches at home have finished in the UNDER.
- Club León has gone seven straight games without a defeat away from home.
- Five of the last seven head-to-head meetings between these two teams at the Estadio Universitario have finished in the UNDER.
Pumas UNAM vs Club Leon Game Center
Marioni’s revolution
It’s amazing what a change in managers can do to a team. Under David Patiño, Pumas looked destined for another season of failure, but in comes his replacement Bruno Marioni and the Universitarios suddenly look like a team that will be fighting for a playoff spot.
Tactically, not much has changed since Marioni’s arrival. It’s mentally where the Mexico City side has seen the most change. After the thrashing Pumas received from Club América during last season’s Liguilla, a change of mentality was quickly needed, and Marioni has delivered in the best way possible.
The numbers also back him up. Pumas is unbeaten in the three Liga MX games Marioni has coached this season, recording two wins and one draw. This includes a draw against league leaders Monterrey and the aforementioned win over Las Águilas.
León is on fire
There is perhaps no hotter team in Mexico right now than Club León. Ignacio Ambriz’s team is sizzling hot at the moment after winning each of their last four Liga MX matches. Through their winning streak, León has outscored opponents by a combined score of 12-0, and most impressive of all, those four wins came against playoff-contending teams, including a win against defending champion Club América at the Estadio Azteca and last season’s finalist Cruz Azul.
The key for León has been its defense, which ranks second best behind Chivas Guadalajara, as well as the offensive duo of Angel Mena and Jose Juan Macias. As the saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” and though both Mena and Macias arrived to León as rejects from prior teams, they’ve been incredibly effective together after only seven weeks. In total, Mena and Macias have accounted for 10 of the 16 goals that León has scored in this Clausura, including the last six.
Don’t count out Pumas
All things considered, if there is a team that can bring León’s winning streak to a halt, it is definitely Pumas. At least historically speaking, the Universitarios have done quite well in their games against La Fiera. In their last six head-to-head meetings vs León across all competitions, Pumas has only lost once.
They also arrive to this match with the advantage of having played their previous Liga MX game at the Estadio Universitario. This means this will be a well-rested Pumas side that has gone seven straight Liga MX games unbeaten in its home stadium and has lost just once in its last 11 at home.
My take on the game...
Playing at noon in the altitude of Mexico City is never easy. While I expect León to continue to be a threat to the Liga MX title in what remains of the season, I am going with an upset win for Pumas UNAM. I think it will be a close match, but the Universitarios will do just enough to keep their new coach Bruno Marioni undefeated in this Clausura.
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