- Santos Laguna have failed to win either of their last two head-to-head matches against Pumas UNAM in all competitions (1 draw, 1 win).
- Pumas UNAM have failed to win any of their last three head-to-head away games against Santos Laguna.
Pumas UNAM will provide a tough test for Santos Laguna
Santos Laguna have a new manager in Fernando Ortiz after his appointment in December 2024 and he will need to find a way to make his team tick if they’re to kickstart their Liga MX 2025-2026 campaign. The hosts sit 15th in the table coming into this one with 0 points from 0 games and they’ll be desperate to get off to a fast start under new leadership this Sunday.
Ortiz will have confidence in his side to hurt teams with their attacking quality, as the likes of Bruno Barticciotto have made their presence felt with goals in two of their most recent four, but they will find this a difficult test against a side that are well versed in how to nullify opposing attacks.
Our Santos Laguna Mexico vs Pumas UNAM prediction is that both managers will focus on exploiting weaknesses in the opposing team, making this fixture a tactical showdown for the opening round.
Pumas UNAM are ranked 5th in the Liga MX 2025-2026 table with 0 points from 0 matches coming into this clash but they are one of the better organised sides in the league and will be looking to establish some momentum early on in the season.
The visitors are disciplined in their defensive shape and have more structure to their build-up play, and although they do press the opposing midfield, it’s a more measured affair than what Santos Laguna play.
A clash of attacking verve vs organisation
The home side love to play on the front foot, pushing forward and using vertical passing and quick transitions with overlapping fullbacks to unsettle the back four. However, Pumas UNAM have enough of a quality in the final third to cause problems themselves, and this is a chess match that could be won if one side is caught napping defensively or one player plays a brilliant counter attack.
Guillermo Martinez is the danger man for Pumas UNAM, with four of their six goals across the last five matches having gone in courtesy of his clinical finishing. For the best value, the Santos Laguna Mexico vs Pumas UNAM odds will be closely watched by punters ahead of kickoff. Santos Laguna are an interesting price at +280 and the draw isn’t too far off with odds of +245.
However, Pumas UNAM have the recent advantage in this fixture, making the Santos Laguna Mexico vs Pumas UNAM prediction even more intriguing to analyze.
Efrain Juarez has been in charge since March 2025 and has tightened up their defensive shape while keeping their attack efficient.
This Santos Laguna Mexico vs Pumas UNAM preview highlights the importance of tactical discipline and form, which are crucial to consider for anyone interested in Santos Laguna Mexico vs Pumas UNAM betting tips.
As such, the ‘Pumas UNAM or draw’ double chance market looks very appealing here.
