Preview: Pumas vs. Tigres · prediction, team news, line-ups
Pumas host Tigres at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario on Saturday 24 October, with kickoff at 21:10 local time in Mexico City, in Matchday 14 of the Apertura 2026.
The hosts are 11th with 16 points, while the visitors sit 14th on 14 and cannot afford another slip.
Match preview
Pumas are going through an uneven spell. They lost 0-2 to Santos Laguna on 22 October, having beaten Atlante 2-1, drawn 3-3 with Cruz Azul, lost 2-3 to Atletico San Luis and drawn 1-1 with Atlas.
At home, Solari's side have one win, three draws and two defeats from six games, scoring 9 and conceding 11. The Olimpico Universitario has not been a fortress this season.
Juninho leads the attack with 8 goals. Robert Morales partners him up front, while Uriel Antuna and Cesar Huerta stretch the pitch out wide.
Pumas have scored 19 and conceded 22 in 13 games, a goal difference of -3. The defence is the weak point, having shipped three goals in two of their last five matches.
Tigres arrive winless in two. They lost 0-2 at home to Leon on 21 October and drew 1-1 with Chivas, after beating Toluca 3-2 and Puebla 1-0.
Away from home, Vucetich's side are still searching for a first win, with three draws and four defeats from seven trips, scoring 5 and conceding 11. They are far better at home, with three wins, two draws and one defeat.
Juan Brunetta is the team's top scorer with 7 goals. Tigres have 3 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats, with 14 scored, 18 conceded and a goal difference of -4.
The recent head-to-head leans slightly towards the visitors. Of the last five meetings, Tigres have won two, Pumas one and two were drawn. Pumas won 1-0 in Monterrey on 15 January 2026, and the most recent meeting at Ciudad Universitaria finished 1-1 on 21 September 2025.
The context matters. The table is tight, with Pumas one point behind Tijuana, who have 17, and Tigres two behind the hosts. Both need points to keep their Liguilla hopes alive.
The night at CU will also include a tribute to Hugo Sanchez, marking 50 years since his professional debut with the university club.
U.N.A.M. - Pumas · recent results
- LSantos Laguna 2-0 U.N.A.M. - Pumas
- 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
Tigres UANL · recent results
- LTigres UANL 0-2 Leon
- DGuadalajara Chivas 1-1 Tigres UANL
- WTigres UANL 3-2 Toluca
- WTigres UANL 1-0 Puebla
- LFC Juarez 2-0 Tigres UANL
Key stats
Trends · last 5 matches
Team news
Pumas will be without Nathan Silva, who was sent off against Santos Laguna. It will be his first absence of the campaign, as he started all 13 previous games. Angel Azuaje is set to take his place in defence.
The rest of the side tipped by Claro Sports keeps Keylor Navas in goal, with Ruben Duarte, Pablo Bennevendo and Rodrigo Lopez in defence. Carrasquilla, Vite, Antuna and Huerta would make up the midfield, with Morales and Juninho leading the line.
For Tigres, Joaquim is out with a muscle tear suffered against Chivas. The defence is expected to stay the same, according to the Monterrey press, because of the number of absentees.
Juan Brunetta returns after serving his suspension against Leon, and Rodrigo Aguirre is also expected back in the XI. Vucetich is preparing four changes from the previous match.
Pumas hold the better league position, but they are without Nathan Silva and have conceded three goals in two of their last five games. Tigres are winless on the road and short at the back, although Brunetta and Aguirre return. Two sides who must pick up points and share defensive problems point towards a split at CU.