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Liga MX: Resurgent Pumas will be tested in stretch run

By Thomas Buckley

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 16: Pablo Barrera #8 of Pumas celebrate with teammates after scoring the third goal of his team during the 9th round match between Pumas UNAM and Lobos BUAP as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 16: Pablo Barrera #8 of Pumas celebrate with teammates after scoring the third goal of his team during the 9th round match between Pumas UNAM and Lobos BUAP as part of the Torneo Apertura 2018 Liga MX at Olimpico Universitario Stadium on September 16, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) /
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One of the more surprising teams near the top of the Liga MX table has been Pumas. Now they get to keep proving themselves during the final seven matches.

Just over a month ago, goal.com wrote an article listing the top candidates for the Pumas job since David Patiño was surely going to be fired. Other publications called for his resignation.

In all-too-familiar scenario, UNAM started the season blazing hot then cooled off dramatically, dashing hopes of another title. The Pumas opened the Apertura 2018 season with 3 straight wins, scoring 10 goals and claiming the top spot in the Liga MX table. Then the wheels came off and three straight scoreless games resulted in two losses and a tie.

Matchday 7 was the crusher that produced the death knell. Leading 2-1 at Estadio Azteca and América playing with 9 men, UNAM gave up a cheap goal in injury time and the once promising season was headed in the wrong direction … again.

But Pumas management decided to resist the public calls for Patiño’s head and the young squad produced two wins in a row before last week’s waterlogged 0-0 draw in Morelia that was called after 81 minutes. On Wednesday, the “Auriazules” strutted into Estadio Akron for a Copa MX match and did something no Pumas team had done since 1986. They defeated the Chivas in Guadalajara to move into the Cup quarterfinals.

As September draws to a close, UNAM is in 4th place and boast the league’s third-best offense as 12th-place Puebla pays a visit to Estadio CU on Sunday, giving the Pumas the chance to move to 21 points through 11 games.

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Nobody is talking about replacing coach Patiño and instead there is praise for the development of youngsters, especially fullbacks Alan Mozo and Alan Mendoza. But the Pumas can’t be content with turning their season around to this point. They must limit their mistakes and learn how to adapt more smoothly in-game because the schedule gets tougher from here on out.

Running the Gauntlet

The Pumas’ record is a bit misleading because their 5 wins are rather “soft.” Their victories have come against the 5 teams that currently sit in the last 5 spots in the table (Necaxa, León, Veracruz, Lobos BUAP and Atlas).

There are no more patsies on the schedule and Patiño knows his players must improve, especially relatively untested goalie Alfredo Saldívar.

The Pumas return to Guadalajara next week and the Chivas will be fielding a first-choice line-up, desperate to chase a playoff spot. After a midweek Copa match vs León, UNAM hosts the Tigres, then travels to Tijuana, returns home to face league-leading Cruz Azul, hits the road to tangle with Toluca and closes at home against Santos.

If the Pumas survive this homestretch test, they will certainly be battle-tested for the playoffs. Coach Patiño will no doubt emphasize better quality possessions and better finishing. Summer acquisitions Carlos González and Felipe Mora were supposed to ignite the offense, but González in particular has been prone to misfire (he also struggled with a thigh strain) and veteran Matías Alustiza has put up some quality minutes though Patiño would prefer to save the 34-year-old as a late-game sub when needed.

In midfield, 24-year-old Kevin Escamilla – a Pumas youth camp product – has been a pleasant find alongside Argentine veteran Víctor Malcorra, while Juan Iturbe and Pablos Barrera have enjoyed productive seasons on the flanks. At issue is whether the midfield four can discover how to feed the strikers to put them in the best position to score.

In the center of defense, Luis Fernando Quintana and Pablo Jáquez have been helped by the maturation and confidence of the two aforementioned fullbacks but they bear watching since they were forced to pair up after the dislocated elbow suffered by Alejandro Arribas las month.

Sideline watchers will also keep a close eye on how Patiño manages his bench. David Cabrera and Andrés Iniestra are decent midfield options while 19-year-old Brian Figueroa made a case for himself with his performance in the Cup match in Guadalajara. Martín Rodríguez also provides an option as an attacking midfielder. But it is the defensive back four that will be of most concern because there are no veteran options in case of another injury, red cards or a drop in form (particularly from the callow 23-year-old, Jáquez).

On the field, skipper Pablo Barrerra can be the fiery leader the Pumas will need to withstand the upcoming challenges. His health – he’s 31 now – will be key if UNAM hopes to rely on swift counters and spreading the field with possession in an effort to minimize the pressure that goalie Saldívar and his defense will face as the playoffs approach.

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