Cruz Azul vs UNAM Pumas Betting Preview (Liga MX)

It’s the last round of the Liga MX Apertura and the most interesting game of the round is the Cruz Azul vs UNAM Pumas clash. The two currently stand on equal points, but UNAM Pumas is a spot higher than Cruz Azul due to a better score difference.

The two are currently in places that lead to the quarterfinals of the Liga MX Playoffs. However, there are two other teams that have a chance to overtake them in the final round. What this means is that Cruz Azul vs UNAM Pumas game is even more important than you might have imagined.

No Defeat for UNAM Pumas Since September

You could say that UNAM Pumas have been playing really well lately. They did draw their previous two games but are without a single defeat since losing to Club Leon in September. Losing to the winner of the regular season of the Liga MX Apertura is not a big disappointment, especially knowing that UNAM Pumas played with 10 men against Club Leo for more than one entire half. And the man who got sent off in that game was their goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera.

Talavera and his buddies from the defense have been okay throughout the season, but UNAM Pumas’ strongest weapon has been their attack. This team has scored a total of 27 goals, which puts them in second place in the list of the highest-scoring teams in Liga MX, just behind Club America with 30 goals.

The Battle of Two Top-Scorers in Liga MX

In their five previous Liga MX games, Cruz Azul have scored only two goals. The man who scored both of those was Jonathan Rodríguez. What’s really interesting is that he scored in every game in which his team scored a goal.

That said, Rodríguez is this team’s key player by a mile. In comparison, their second top-scorer is teenage striker Tomas Gimenez with four goals.

Cruz Azul vs UNAM Pumas Prediction

UNAM Pumas are the better team, but one might think that they’re not going to go for a win here as they’re currently placed higher than Cruz Azul in the Liga MX standings. The trouble is that Monterrey and UANL Tigres are breathing by their necks.

Monterrey has the same number of points as Cruz Azul and UNAM Pumas, meaning that they can leapfrog both of them if that game finishes in a draw. Of course, for that to happen, Monterrey would need to win their game in the last round. That shouldn’t be difficult as they’re taking on Guadalajara Chivas, who are going to get to the 1/8-final of the Liga MX Playoffs regardless of what happens in the final round.

UNAL Tigres also have a chance to leapfrog Cruz Azul and UNAM Pumas if these two play a draw on Saturday evening. The Tigers have two points fewer than them, but with a win over desperate Atlas, they would have the same number of points as the two, as well as a better score difference.

What this all means is that if UNAM Pumas want to secure a spot in the quarterfinal of the Liga MX Playoffs, they need to go for a win. It’s basically the same situation for their opponent, which is why a good soccer prop bet would be to bet on goals on both ends.

When it comes to the match-winner, Cruz Azul does not seem capable of stopping the motivated players of UNAM Pumas.