Pumas UNAM vs. Tigres UANL Predictions
The loss against Chivas in the first leg of the Liguilla quarterfinals was the only loss Pumas have encountered in their last five Liga MX games. They dodged defeats towards the end of the season after drawing against Leon and then defeating Atlas and Chivas.
Meanwhile, Tigres finally put their four-game winless streak to rest with a 3-0 win against Puebla. The defending champions ended their regular season with a loss against Tijuana and two back-to-back draws against San Luis and Club America.
Tigres UANL are favorites to win this tie, but Pumas UNAM will not make it easy, at least in the first leg. Capitalizing on home advantage, Pumas are expected to hold the defending champions to a draw in the first leg of the high-octane semifinal.
Previous Meetings
These two clubs have a lot of history between them and have met in multiple competitions over the years. In the last 34 encounters, Tigres have won 18 times, while Pumas have registered only seven wins. Nine matches have ended in draws.
Despite the poor head-to-head record, Tigres faltered where it mattered the most when the two sides clashed in the Apertura 2018 playoffs. Tigres won the home leg 2-1, only to lose 3-1 in the return leg of that quarterfinal encounter.
Additionally, Pumas have only won one of their last five encounters against Tigres at home. That win came earlier this season. Before that, the hosts have lost two and drawn two against the side who are strong title contenders this season.
Pumas UNAM Could Play on the Counter
In the second leg against Chivas Guadalajara, Pumas never panicked despite being down on aggregate after narrowly losing the first leg. They let Chivas enjoy more possession before hitting the visitors on the counter.
Coach Antonio Mohamed could deploy the same strategy against Tigres in the semifinal, relying on quick breaks led by Eduardo Salvio, Cesar Huerta, and Gabriel Fernandez. Support from both full-backs will also be quite critical in this match.
Winger Off the Mark in Playoffs
Huerta fired a blank in the first leg of the previous playoff round. However, the winger opened his Liguilla account by scoring his ninth goal of the season in the second leg.
The 23-year-old has started all but two games for Pumas this season, attempting a total of 44 shots, averaging almost three shots per game. His contribution will be crucial down the flank.
The Hosts Have a Strong Home Record
In the regular Apertura 2023 season, Pumas lost just one of the eight home games they played all season. They drew two and won five encounters.
In the last three home games, Pumas have scored seven goals and conceded none. Also, the hosts have already beaten Tigres when they visited the Estadio Olimpico de Universitario earlier this season.
Tigres UANL Desperate for a Double
After defeating Pumas’ previous opponent, Chivas, in the playoff finals of the 2023 Clausura season, Tigres UANL lifted their eighth Liga MX title. In the current Apertura season, where Club America are favorites, Tigres are desperate to add a ninth league crown to their bag.
The visitors may have finished ten points off the top of the table, but are a menace on the pitch. The title is in their sight, but first, the focus will entirely be on the mercurial Pumas side, who will be categorized as the underdogs, but the visitors cannot afford to underestimate the hosts.
Talisman Marked His Return With a Brace
In the first leg of the quarterfinal clash with Puebla, Tigres were without their star man, Andre-Pierre Gignac, who was struggling with a pelvic injury.
The Frenchman was fit to start the second leg, and just nine minutes into the game, he slotted home the opener from the slot before doubling his tally in the 33rd minute. Gignac will aim to add more to his tally against Pumas in the next match.
Solid Brazilian at the Back Adds Confidence
As Gignac is back, Tigres will not have any concerns in the attacking department. The club’s defense looked a tad frail in the first leg of the quarterfinal, but the robustness was back in the second.
The center-back duo of Guido Pizarro and Samir kept attackers at bay for the full 90 minutes. Samir finished with a passing accuracy of 95% and won all ground duels. He will aim to replicate that performance in the semifinals now.
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