A pivotal clash awaits as Pumas U.N.A.M. hosts Santos Laguna at the historic Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City for the Liga MX 2026 Clausura regular season. Scheduled for an early morning kick-off at 05:00 CEST on January 31, 2026, this fixture brings together two sides with contrasting starts to the new campaign. Pumas, currently in 6th place with 5 points from three games, remain unbeaten this season under coach Efraín Juárez, while Francisco Rodríguez’s Santos Laguna is struggling, occupying 17th with just a single point and a concerning defensive record. The venue, renowned for its atmospheric intensity, sets the perfect stage for this crucial encounter.
While both teams look to assert themselves after mixed recent form, all eyes will be on two standout performers. For the hosts, Adalberto Carrasquilla’s midfield dynamism has already yielded a goal this campaign, and his creative influence will be vital. On the other side, Santos Laguna will bank on Francisco Villalba, fresh off a two-goal contribution in recent matches, to spearhead their attack and ignite hopes of an away breakthrough.
Hot stat: Both teams have exactly 14 corners over their last five matches, highlighting the attacking intent and tactical discipline each side brings to set-piece situations a factor that could tip the balance in a tightly contested battle.
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Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Santos Laguna predictions
Me best bet: The best value prediction is a straight home win for Pumas U.N.A.M. Despite a run of draws, Pumas’ defensive organization and their ability to dictate the midfield thanks to the disciplined central pairing and Carrasquilla’s contributions should give them the edge over a Santos Laguna side that has conceded eight goals in three matches. Their unbeaten start combined with impressive stamina at home suggests the odds are heavily in their favor.
Additionally, Pumas’ style under Juárez is built around disciplined possession (1047 completed passes, 83% accuracy from 1263 attempts over the last five games), safe buildup, and structured pressing. While Santos Laguna matches their fouls and corners (45 fouls, 14 corners in five), their yellow card tally (12 versus Pumas’ 8) points to a vulnerability under sustained pressure potentially leading to costly suspensions or disorganization as the match progresses.
- ⚽Total Goals: Under 2.5
- 💥Both Teams To Score: No
- 🎯Total Corners: Over 8.5
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Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Santos Laguna Most recent H2Hs
| Statistic | Pumas U.N.A.M. | Santos Laguna |
|---|---|---|
| Total shots | 35 | 39 |
| Free kicks | 45 | 45 |
| Corner kicks | 14 | 14 |
| Total fouls | 45 | 45 |
| Pass accuracy (%) | 83 | 73 |
| Interceptions | 19 | 27 |
| Offsides | 5 | 5 |
Looking back at recent matchups, Santos Laguna stunned Pumas on the road with a 3-0 victory in the 2025 Apertura but lost the last Clausura meeting 2-0. These results underscore the unpredictable nature of this fixture the last three meetings have featured every outcome, with Pumas prevailing once, Santos triumphing once, and a tense draw. Notably, both teams shared goals in only one of those contests, and matches often hinge on defensive lapses or moments of creative brilliance.
🚨Read our full Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Santos Laguna stats for more analysis.
Key Stats
- Pumas U.N.A.M. is unbeaten in their last three Liga MX games (1 win, 2 draws).
- Santos Laguna is winless in 2026 and has conceded eight goals in three matches (most in Liga MX among current teams).
- Both teams have amassed 45 fouls and 14 corners each across their last five matches.
- Pumas have kept a clean sheet in over 33% of home matches this season.
- Santos Laguna’s average pass accuracy is notably lower at 73%, indicating midfield struggles.
Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Santos Laguna score prediction: 2-0
Pumas U.N.A.M. are likely to control the tempo and space, leaning on Carrasquilla’s ability to break lines and Morales’ finishing skills. Expect the home side’s compact defensive core to neutralize Santos’ Villalba and Bullaude, whose creative efforts may be stifled by a higher defensive line and well-drilled pressing. Keylor Navas’ presence in goal should add to Pumas’ stability. The predicted outcome: a comfortable 2-0 victory for the hosts.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Pumas U.N.A.M. the favourite
| Moneyline | Pumas U.N.A.M. 1.58 | Santos Laguna 4.90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Draw | 4.20 | |
| Over/Under | Over 2.5 1.95 | Under 2.5 1.85 | |
| BTTS (both teams to score) | Yes 1.77 | No 1.95 | |
With an average home win chance of 59 percent and bookies clustering around 1.58 odds for Pumas U.N.A.M., the market recognizes the gulf in current form. The odds for “No” in both teams to score 1.95 substantiate the outlook that Pumas are defensively robust while Santos Laguna’s attack is sputtering. Under 2.5 goals also offers near-par odds, reflecting past tendencies of cagey, tactical battles between the sides.
Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Santos Laguna Over/Under Analysis
- Under 2.5 goals landed in four of the last five combined matches for these teams.
- Santos Laguna has failed to score in three of their last five outings.
- Pumas U.N.A.M. have not conceded more than one goal per match so far this Clausura.
- Matches between these sides average just over 2.1 goals per game in the past two seasons.
Pumas U.N.A.M. Preview
Pumas U.N.A.M.’s recent form showcases resilience. Their last three matches returned a narrow 1-0 win over UANL Tigres and two hard-fought draws against Club Leon (1-1) and Queretaro (1-1). The common thread: solid midfield control and a newfound defensive resolve aided by veteran Keylor Navas. With Adalberto Carrasquilla excelling in transitions and Robert Morales providing a direct threat, Pumas are compact, enterprising, and well-drilled even if goals have come sparingly so far.
Pumas U.N.A.M. possible starting eleven

- GK: Keylor Navas
- DF: Nathanael Ananias, Pablo Bennevendo, Jesús Rivas, Rubén Duarte
- MF: Adalberto Carrasquilla, Rodrigo López, Pedro Vite, Ángel Rico, Jorge Ruvalcaba
- FW: Robert Morales
Santos Laguna Preview
Winless in 2026, Santos Laguna have struggled to find rhythm or solidity. A 2-2 draw with Juarez offers scant comfort after back-to-back 1-3 defeats to Toluca and Necaxa exposed vulnerabilities in transition and the backline. Francisco Villalba remains the chief threat with two recent goals, while Bullaude and Palacios must step up in ball retention and chance creation. However, disciplinary issues 12 yellow cards in five games raise further questions about composure under pressure.
Santos Laguna possible starting eleven

- GK: Carlos Acevedo
- DF: Bruno Amione, Javier Abella, Haret Ortega, Efrain Orona
- MF: Francisco Villalba, Kevin Palacios, Carlos Gruezo, Ezequiel Bullaude
- FW: Lucas Di Yorio, Cristián Dájome

Pumas U.N.A.M.. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
The Verdict
On behalf of the Tips.GG team, our main pick is a Pumas U.N.A.M. victory. Their cohesive unit, superior pass accuracy, and home field advantage should lead them past a Santos Laguna suffering from defensive lapses and lack of composure in midfield. Our AI prediction engine assigns Pumas a 63 percent win probability, confirming the bookmakers’ view and our on-field analysis.
How to watch Pumas U.N.A.M. vs Santos Laguna
When?
Kick-off: 31 January 2026, 05:00 CEST
Where?
Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Mexico City, MX
How to watch: Check local listings and official Liga MX streaming platforms.
Favorite: Pumas U.N.A.M.
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