Atlas (Home)
- Atlas have conceded just one goal in their last four league games.
- Atlas have three 1-0 wins and one loss in their last four competitive matches.
- Diego Cocca has fashioned Atlas into a very different team this season, creating a compact, defence-first system that operates with three at the back and wingbacks.
Pumas (Away)
- Pumas coach Efraín Juárez likes to play with a high tempo and his team’s recent attacking returns have improved under his leadership.
- Pumas have notched six in their last three, including last weekend’s 4-0 win against Santos Laguna.
- Juárez has his side set up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 shape that puts high pressure on the ball when out of possession.
Head-to-Head
- This is a true early-season playoff game with Atlas currently a point above Pumas in the Clausura standings, although the winner of this match will jump above the loser and claim some momentum for the second half of the season.
- Pumas hold a historical edge in Liga MX head-to-heads with Atlas.
- So Diego Cocca’s men will be happy to have home advantage for this clash with a Pumas side that could be a bit jaded after their midweek trip to San Diego for the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Key Players
- Adalberto Carrasquilla has been controlling the tempo in central midfield and has contributed goals and assists in recent outings, while Jordan Carrillo is in good form as Pumas’ danger man on the break.
- Uroš Đurđević is their in-form forward right now with the veteran Serbian coming up trumps in two of Atlas’ last three matches, scoring the winners.
- They have a solid foundation to build from at the other end of the field where Manuel Capasso is the captain and leader and has helped create a run of clean sheets in the league.
Betting Insights
- The odds for Sunday’s Liga MX clash between Atlas Guadalajara and Pumas UNAM are pointing to a tight contest, but we will not be surprised if the bookmakers have got it wrong and Pumas justify their slight favouritism (2.46) against an improving Chiva side that are 2.88 for the win.
- Backing Under 2.5 goals at 1.8 seems a good play in this matchup given recent defensive trends.
Prediction
The Draw is coming in at a very tempting 3.15 , but we’re taking Pumas in the result market here as they should just have the edge if they can avoid rotation.
