Preview: Pumas vs Juarez

Pumas will try to become the only team to have nine points and with it continue in first place when they face FC Juarez. They will also try to get revenge for a tie in the only game FC Juarez played in Estadio Olimpico Universitario, where a 1-1 tie virtually ended Pumas’ run for the Liguilla, a game infamous for Ignacio Malcorra missing a penalty kick that cemented his current place as Pumas’ enemy number one. Meanwhile Juarez will try to continue their better than expected start and take advantage of the fact that although Pumas have gotten the results, their level of play has left a lot to be desired.

Pumas has been a total surprise by winning six points out of six. While the team wasn’t expected to do much with such a limited squad and with their Coach Michel quitting the job three days before their first game, they still got two wins lead by Liga MX leading scorer Argentine Juan Ignacio Dinenno. That being said, Pumas record is a little deceiving as they had faced two of the weakest squads in Queretaro and Atlas and even with that, both of the wins were extremely hard fought with Pumas not showing a great level of play. FC Juarez should be the best team faced so far in the season, but they wouldn’t be much of an increase. Even though the next game is also at home, this match should end the streak of inferior opposition as their next rival will be Monterrey. Thus Pumas will need to get the points to protect themselves from a probable setback in the coming days.

FC Juarez will be playing a key game. While the squad wasn’t expected to do much, they had gotten a tie and a win although like Pumas, against teams of dubious quality. Atletico San Luis was expected to do better but they disappointed in their first game against Juarez. Juarez then beat a Necaxa team that has looked as one of the weakest team in Mexico. Like Pumas, they weren’t able to show much of a level of play in either of the games. While Juarez looks like they will improve especially with the possible addition of Marco Fabian, he would not be present in this game. Juarez will also suffer as they will probably be without injured Joaquin Esquivel, who not only is a key in the team but scored the goal in their tie against Pumas in the Apertura 2019. Pumas should be favored but it will not be by much.

TV: TUDN 1:00 PM ET/12:00 PM CT