Liga MX: Pumas to be tested by underachieving Tigres
Pumas and Tigres square off as two teams having surprising years but for different reasons.
The Pumas have been bucking the odds all season. Considered to be in a rebuilding year, UNAM has been lurking in the shadows, rarely dropping out of the top 4 spots as their Kiddie Corps has exceeded expectations.
In their previous match, the Pumas won a league match against the Chivas in Guadalajara for the first time in 36 years. They have another stern test this weekend, as the Tigres come to CU.
The loaded Tigres have been underachievers, partially due to some nicks and bruises that forced key players to the sidelines but they do sometimes appear to be coasting, as if waiting for their undeniable talent to take over.
With only 5 games remaining, this is a key match: The Pumas can make a statement that they are the real deal while the Tigres must declare their intention to win their fourth straight Apertura title by defeating a quality opponent on the road.
Last match
Pumas: 2-1 win at Chivas
After giving up an early goal, the Pumas reacted with a solid all-around performance, getting goals from Martín Rodríguez and Felipe Mora to taste victory in Guadalajara. Central defender Alex Arribas returned from a nasty elbow injury that kept him out over a month and though he looked rusty, his experience in the middle of the defense was key.
Tigres: 3-2 loss vs América
The Tigres showed hints of their potential but they were a disaster on set pieces and América punished them, scoring all three goals on plays from free kicks. Javier Aquino came on late as a sub after missing 4 weeks due to injury and he provided a spark. The Tigres dominated possession (69%) but could not figure out how to crack open the Águilas defense.
Possible line-ups
Pumas: 4-4-2
Saldívar
Mozo – Arribas – Quintana – Mendoza
Barrera – Malcorra – Iniestra – Rodríguez
Mora – González
The return of Alex Arribas helps both offensively and defensively. The veteran’s presence brings order to the back four and it allows fullbacks Alan Mozo and Alan Mendoza greater confidence to venture up the flanks where they have been dangerous (particularly Mozo). Felipe Mora has been on fire lately, but the Pumas will need Carlos González to rediscover his scoring touch if they hope to have a deep playoff run.
Tigres: 4-4-2
Guzmán
Chaka – Ayala – Juninho – Torres Nilo
Zelarayán – Pizarro – Carioca – Aquino
Vargas – Gignac
After the FIFA break, Juninho and Javier Aquino should be able to return from injury row and reclaim their starting positions. Guido Pizarro and Rafael Carioca are starting to work better together as a double-pivot in the middle of the field, but the Tigres have struggled to find André-Pierre Gignac in his favored positions. Aquino’s return might help with that.
More from Viva Liga MX
- Guillermo Ochoa is out 4-6 weeks
- The Clásico Regiomontano is Heating Up
- Pumas: In Search of Regaining a Top Spot
- Why the United States Is Set to Overtake Mexico on the World Stage
- Erick Gutierrez is out once again
Key players
Pumas: Alex Arribas and Luis Fernando Quintana will be tasked with marking André-Pierre Gignac, the league’s top goal-scorer. The Frenchman is comfortable dropping into midfield to help start the offense and is clever at finding space in between lines and in between markers. The Pumas pair can’t afford to lose track of him.
Tigres: Edu Vargas has had an up-and-down season but the Tigres desperately need to find a dangerman who can take the heat off Gignac. His passing skills and long-range accuracy should be the perfect complement to Gignac, but the Chile international has not found his form this season and has been forced to share time up front with Enner Valencia and Julián Quiñones.
Prediction
Coach Tuca Ferretti will have to put his Tigres cap back on after managing El Tri during the FIFA break, but he loves playing at UNAM where he starred as a player and coach. I think the Tigres veterans know it is time to get serious and the break should have improved the health of key players. If UNAM loses tactical discipline in their defensive half, this could be a difficult game. I see the Tigres imposing their will on this match and declaring their candidacy for the title.