This weekend, the second- and fourth-place teams in Liga MX, the first division soccer league in Mexico, are set to square off in the city of Leon. Club Leon (6-0-3, 18 points) sits in second place, just a point back of Cruz Azul, as they prepare to host fourth-place Pumas UNAM (4-3-2, 15 points). Pumas has won twice, lost twice and drawn once in their last five matches, with a 3-3 tie against Club America coming last week. Leon has three wins and two losses in their last five matches, rolling to a 4-1 rout at Juarez last week. If Pumas UNAM can pull off the road win, they would get within a point of Leon, while a Leon win would put them two points ahead of the league leaders. Liga MX is one of the few major sports leagues holding games this weekend due to the spread of the coronavirus throughout many of the nations in the world. As you consider your sports betting options for this weekend, take a look at this showdown between two of Liga MX’s top teams. Let’s see how the Liga MX odds will be for the Leon vs Pumas.
Leon vs Pumas 2020 Liga MX Game Preview & Betting Odds
- When: Saturday, March 14, 2020, 9:00 pm ET
- Where: Estadio Leon, Leon, Mexico
- TV: TUDN USA / Univision
- Radio: None
- Live Stream: fuboTV
- Soccer Odds: Leon 1.85 / Draw 3.92 / Pumas UNAM 4.20
Why should you bet on Pumas UNAM?
Pumas UNAM hosted Club America last weekend, and the result was nothing less than a helter-skelter track meet, especially in the last 20 minutes of the game. Pumas got up early with an eighth-minute goal from Nicolas Freire, before Leonardo Suarez brought Club America level with a tally in the 31st minute. The score was knotted at a goal apiece until Federico Vinas gave the visitors a 2-1 lead. Pumas roared back with goals from Victor Malcorra in the 82nd minute and Juan Ignacio Dinenno in the 84th, and it looked like the hosts had pulled off the comeback until Henry Martin Mex staked Club America to the draw with a goal four minutes into extra time at the end of the second half.
Pumas possessed the ball for 52 percent of the match and outshot Club America 16-12 (7-6 on target). The game featured 27 combined fouls and eight combined yellow cards, as the two Liga MX contenders played a spirited match. Both teams were right around 72 percent in passing accuracy, so the draw made sense from a statistical point of view. If you like Pumas to go on the road and win against Leon, though, you think their defense will play much better this time around.
Why should you put your money on Leon?
Leon rolled over sixth-place Juarez on the road last Sunday in a 4-1 shellacking. Angelo Sagal actually had the hosts ahead, scoring in the eighth minute, and it remained that way well into the second half. However, the floodgates opened when Angel Mena converted a penalty from the spot in the 67th minute. Joel Campbell gave Leon a 2-1 lead in the 81st minute, followed by a tally from Armando Leon Resendez two minutes later. Mena completed his brace, adding insult to injury, in the 90th minute with the team’s fourth goal.
Leon dominated the match statistically, possessing for almost two-thirds of the match. They outshot the hosts, 20-8 (6-1 on target) and completed 82 percent of their passes. The match was extremely physical, with the two sides combining for 29 fouls and eight yellow cards. Juarez did force six corners but was unable to turn much of that pressure into real scoring chances. If you like Leon, you see them taking the offense to Pumas UNAM at home.
Final Score Prediction
I’m concerned about the gaps in Pumas’ back line. I see Leon holding form at home and dishing out a 3-2 win.
