Preview: Santos Laguna vs. Pumas · prediction, team news, line-ups
Santos Laguna host U.N.A.M. - Pumas at the Estadio TSM Corona on Wednesday 21 October, with kick-off at 9.10pm Mexico City time, in Matchday 13 of the Apertura 2026.
Both sides sit on 16 points from 12 games. Santos are ninth in the table, while Pumas are 11th.
Match preview
Santos are enjoying the best spell of their campaign. They arrive on five consecutive Liga MX wins, their longest run since 2001, and have climbed to ninth after losing six and drawing one of their first seven games.
The latest was a 5-0 thrashing of Querétaro at the Corona. Before that came a 2-1 win at San Luis, 1-0 against Pachuca, 3-2 at Toluca and 2-1 against Juárez. Across those five games they have scored 13 and conceded four.
At home, Renato Paiva's side have won three, drawn one and lost two, scoring eight and conceding only three. Away from the Corona the picture is different, with two wins and 13 goals shipped in six matches.
Tahiel Jiménez is the squad's top scorer with five goals. Santos are chasing a sixth straight victory, something they have not managed in the data going back to 2001. On the five previous occasions they reached five, they failed to win the sixth.
Pumas have been inconsistent. They won 2-1 at Atlante last time out, but prior to that drew 3-3 with Cruz Azul, lost 3-2 to Atlético San Luis, drew 1-1 with Atlas and were beaten 3-0 by Chivas.
Across those five matches the Universitarios have scored eight and conceded 11. Juninho is their main threat with eight goals this season.
On the road, Pumas have won three of six, drawn one and lost two, scoring 10 and conceding nine. At home they have won only once in six, with three draws.
The recent head-to-head favours the visitors. Pumas have won three of the last five Liga MX meetings, Santos one, with one draw. Pumas have scored 10 goals to Santos's four.
The most recent clash was a 4-0 Pumas win in January 2026. Santos's only recent victory was a 3-0 success at the Corona in July 2025.
The context matters. The top eight in the overall table advance straight to the quarter-finals, with no Play-In, and four rounds will remain after this one. Both teams are outside the Liguilla places, so three points would move either one closer.
Santos Laguna · recent results
- WSantos Laguna 5-0 Club Queretaro
- WAtletico San Luis 1-2 Santos Laguna
- WSantos Laguna 1-0 CF Pachuca
- WToluca 2-3 Santos Laguna
- WSantos Laguna 2-1 FC Juarez
U.N.A.M. - Pumas · recent results
- WAtlante FC 1-2 U.N.A.M. - Pumas
- DU.N.A.M. - Pumas 3-3 Cruz Azul
- LU.N.A.M. - Pumas 2-3 Atletico San Luis
- DAtlas 1-1 U.N.A.M. - Pumas
- LGuadalajara Chivas 3-0 U.N.A.M. - Pumas
Key stats
Trends · last 5 matches
Team news
Santos have no reported absentees, according to Publimetro. Carlos Acevedo, Tahiel Jiménez, Eduardo Aguirre and Ezequiel Bullaude all featured against Querétaro, and Paiva could retain the core of the side that won 5-0.
Predicted line-ups point to a back three of Franco Pardo, Felipe Sánchez and Efraín Orona, with Bullaude, Ramiro Sordo and Jiménez in attack.
Pumas also have no confirmed absences. César Huerta returns after missing the Atlante game through suspension, having been sent off against Cruz Azul. Keylor Navas, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Juninho and Robert Morales started that win.
Published projections differ on one spot, with some naming Alan Medina in midfield and others Huerta.
Santos have the momentum, the Corona and a home defence that has conceded just three in six. Pumas have the head-to-head record and Juninho, but their defensive numbers in recent weeks leave them exposed. We expect an open contest in which the hosts edge it, with Santos prevailing by a single goal.
Match odds
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