Sofia Quijada
Two Mexican Liga MX clubs meet on neutral ground in Bergen, Norway, as Pumas U.N.A.M. face Puebla in an International Club Friendly on June 27. The setting at Brann Stadion adds an unusual twist to what is otherwise a familiar domestic rivalry, with both sides using this summer window to build fitness and test tactical setups ahead of the Apertura campaign.
Pumas, under coach Efraín Juárez, carry a noticeably stronger 2026 season record into this game, sitting at 12 wins from 25 matches (48% win rate). Puebla under Albert Espigares have managed just 3 wins from 17 outings this year (18%), a telling gap in form. One player to watch on the Pumas side is their attacking midfielder, who has been central to their recent build-up play during Liga MX action. For Puebla, their forward line will need to be sharp after shipping five goals to Chivas Guadalajara in their most recent competitive outing.
Hot stat: Puebla conceded 11 goals across their last five Liga MX matches, losing four of those five games, including a 5-0 hammering by Chivas Guadalajara.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026, June Phase |
| 🗓️ Date: | 27.06.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 13:00 CEST |
Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Puebla Prediction
Pumas U.N.A.M. are the clear favourites here, and the head-to-head record backs that up. In four recent meetings, Pumas won three and drew one, with scorelines of 3-2, 0-0, 3-1, and 1-0 in their favour. The aggregate goal difference strongly favours Pumas, and Puebla’s current form offers little reason to expect a reversal.
Puebla have lost their last four Liga MX matches before this friendly, conceding at least one goal in each. Their 1-2 losses to Queretaro and Monterrey, and the heavy 0-5 defeat to Chivas, paint a picture of a side struggling defensively and lacking a consistent attacking threat. Pumas, by contrast, drew 0-0 and 1-2 with Cruz Azul (a top-half Liga MX side), beat Pachuca 1-0, and held Club America to a 3-3 draw. Their competitive level in recent months is meaningfully higher.
We predict a Pumas win with goals on both sides as the most likely outcome. Pumas have shown they can score but also concede, and Puebla, even in poor form, have found the net in three of their last five matches. This is a friendly context which tends to encourage open play, and both managers will want attacking output from their squads.
In terms of style, Pumas have shown disciplined pressing in Liga MX play and tend to accumulate fouls in transition zones, which generates free kick opportunities. Puebla commit fouls at a higher rate when under pressure and have struggled with yellow card discipline. That pattern could benefit Pumas through set piece situations, particularly if Puebla are chasing the game late on.
| 🔥 Hot Tip: | Pumas U.N.A.M. to Win & Both Teams to Score |
| ⚽ Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥 Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯 Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Pumas U.N.A.M. arrive at this friendly off the back of a Liga MX Clausura run that included a 3-3 draw with Club America, a narrow 1-0 win over Pachuca, a 0-1 loss to Pachuca, a goalless draw with Cruz Azul, and a 1-2 defeat to Cruz Azul in their most recent match. That last result, a loss to Cruz Azul, was competitive, coming against a side with a solid recent form string. Pumas showed attacking intent in several of these games and their ability to score against strong Liga MX opposition is a positive indicator. Their season win rate of 48% from 25 matches confirms they are a functional, mid-to-upper Liga MX outfit under Juárez.
Puebla’s recent Liga MX form is difficult to defend. A 1-1 draw with Juarez was followed by a 0-1 loss to Club Leon, a 0-5 thrashing by Chivas Guadalajara, a 1-2 defeat to Monterrey, and a 1-2 loss to Queretaro as their most recent result. That is one draw and four defeats in their last five, with 11 goals conceded. Chivas, Monterrey, and Queretaro are not the strongest Liga MX sides, which makes Puebla’s defensive record even more concerning. Espigares will want to use this friendly to find some structure and confidence, but the raw numbers suggest Pumas hold a significant advantage.
Across four head-to-head meetings in Liga MX, Pumas have scored 7 goals to Puebla’s 3, winning three times and drawing once. The most recent clash (Liga MX 2026 Clausura) ended 3-2 to Pumas, confirming that goals tend to flow in this fixture even when Puebla are competitive.
🚨 Check out our dedicated Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Puebla stats page for more info.
No bookmaker odds are available for this friendly at the time of writing. Based on the head-to-head record, the gap in 2026 season form, and Puebla’s defensive fragility, Pumas should be priced as clear favourites. A Pumas win with both teams scoring reflects the most consistent pattern across their recent meetings, and the friendly format adds extra incentive for open, attacking play from both benches.
Possible Starting Lineups
Pumas U.N.A.M. Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Julio González
- DF: Jesús Rivas, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Marco García, Adalberto Madrigal
- MF: César Huerta, Sebastián Saucedo, Higor Meritão, Diogo
- FW: Rogelio Funes Mori, Eduardo Salvio
Juárez is expected to set up in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 shape, prioritising defensive solidity at the back while allowing the wide midfielders to press high. César Huerta is the player to watch, given his ability to drive forward and create chances from the left channel. Rogelio Funes Mori leads the line and brings Liga MX-level finishing experience that Puebla’s backline will need to account for. Lineup data is limited given this is a pre-season friendly, so selections are based on squad usage patterns from the Liga MX campaign.
Puebla Possible Starting Eleven
- GK: Ignacio Rivero
- DF: Maximiliano Perg, Jorge Ruvalcaba, Eduardo Arce, Gustavo Ferrareis
- MF: Pablo Sabbag, Nicolás Vikonis, Cristian Tabó, Facundo Castro
- FW: Ramón Juárez, Rodrigo Salinas
Espigares will likely field a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, though with Puebla’s recent form in mind, a more defensive 4-5-1 to limit Pumas’ attacking output is also plausible. Pablo Sabbag provides the most direct attacking threat and is the key player to watch for Puebla. The backline has conceded at an alarming rate recently, and how Puebla organise defensively in the first 20 minutes will shape how much this friendly opens up. Again, lineup data is based on Liga MX appearance patterns given no specific friendly squad data is available.
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Puebla. Source: Official Website
TipsGG Match Prediction
Pumas U.N.A.M. are the stronger side on every measurable metric heading into this game. Their 48% win rate across 25 matches in 2026 versus Puebla’s 18% from 17 is a significant gap, and the head-to-head record over four recent Liga MX meetings (3 wins, 1 draw for Pumas) reinforces that. Puebla have conceded 11 goals in their last five matches and have not won since early in their Liga MX run.
We predict a Pumas U.N.A.M. win, with both teams scoring and the match going over 2.5 goals. The 3-2 result in their most recent meeting shows Puebla can find the net even against a better Pumas side, and the friendly format tends to produce open matches. To be honest, the only real question is the margin, not the winner. Pumas by two goals is a reasonable expectation, and corners should be plentiful given both teams’ tendencies to press and attack wide areas.
