- History: Pachuca have won three of the last four Liga MX meetings between the clubs, including a 3 - 1 victory at home in November 2025.
- Recent form: Pachuca have won their last three league matches, scoring nine goals, while Pumas are unbeaten in eight and have won four of their last five.
- Stakes: This clash could decide which of these two rivals makes it into the top two for the Liguilla.
Pachuca are slight favs for Pumas clash
Pachuca CF are slight favorites to beat Pumas UNAM on Saturday, but the visitors’ recent form and the stakes of the game make it too close to call. The hosts have won their last three matches, but Pumas are also in cracking form, so the odds on offer have to be taken into consideration when assessing a wager for this match-up.
Esteban Solari’s team have played some of their best soccer of the season in April, winning three and drawing two of their five matches. They have been particularly prolific, netting nine goals in those three victories, including a 3 - 1 away win over Monterrey and a 4 - 2 home triumph against Santos - where Víctor Guzmán’s hat-trick has turned some heads. But Pachuca’s defensive record hasn’t been quite as good as the goals scored would suggest.
Pumas are on an even more impressive run of form, having gone eight league games without defeat to storm back into the Liguilla picture. Efraín Juárez’s side are on 33 points, two ahead of Pachuca in third, and a win here would consolidate second place and keep pressure on leaders Chivas. A loss, however, would see Pachuca jump ahead and leave Pumas looking over their shoulders at the chasing pack.
Goals at both ends likely when attacking talent aligns
Tactical approaches
Juárez has the Pumas playing with an intensity and discipline that has seen them through some tough games in the last month, while their ability to turn on the style in the transition phases has been the spark that has carried them to second in the table with 33 points. Guillermo Martínez has been the talisman, including a brace to win the game against Juárez, while Robert Morales was also on the scoresheet twice in their 4 - 2 win over Juárez.
Pachuca are more of a high-press team, with Solari’s side looking to attack with numbers and take some risks when they have the ball.
- Salomón Rondón, Enner Valencia and Santiago Homenchenko give Solari options to switch his front three around, but the team’s width and verticality come from Robert Kenedy, who has bagged eight league goals to top the team’s scoring chart.
- Both sides have their key players available and have enough attacking talent to cause problems at both ends of the field.
Prediction and markets
With both teams on a roll and Pumas the more consistent side, there is a good chance that the draw, which is 3.5, could be on the cards. We think Pachuca, playing with the confidence of three straight wins, can edge it on home turf, where the altitude and passionate crowd can give them a boost.
Pumas are very resilient on the road, however, so the safest play is to take the draw no bet market at the slight favorite's odds of 2.07.
There is no getting away from the fact that both Pumas and Pachuca are in fine form and a playoff shootout is likely between the pair on Saturday. Both sides have their key players available and have enough attacking talent to cause problems at both ends of the field.
The BTTS - Yes market is favored at 1.55, and we prefer the goals to flow in a classic clash of styles that will likely see both coaches try to outwit each other in a tactical chess match.
