The Pumas club managed to qualify in the tenth position of the overall table, thus securing a spot in the playoff. However, they received bad news upon learning of Guillermo 'Memote' Martínez's absence due to a red card in the match against the Juárez Braves. This situation casts doubt on his participation against his former team, Monterrey, where Rogelio Funes Mori, the all-time top scorer of the Rayados, stands out.
The match between Monterrey and Pumas presents itself as a dramatic clash as it does not include extra time or the away goal rule. In case of a tie at the end of the 90 regulation minutes, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout, increasing the tension of this decisive game.
Regarding possible lineups, Rayados de Monterrey could enter the field with Luis 'Mochis' Cárdenas, Ricardo Chávez 'Ricachá', Stefan Medina, Víctor 'Toro' Guzmán, Gerardo Arteaga, Jorge 'Corcho' Rodríguez, Nelson Deossa, Iker Fimbres, Jesús 'Tecatito' Corona, Sergio Canales, and Roberto De La Rosa. Meanwhile, Pumas UNAM could count on Álex Padilla, Pablo Monroy, Nathan, Rubén Duarte, Robert Ergas, Santi Trigos, José Caicedo, Luis Suárez, Adalberto 'Coco' Carrasquilla, Nacho Pussetto, and Rogelio Funes Mori in their lineup.
Monterrey arrives at this Play-In match after losing 1-2 against Pachuca in their first playoff duel, forcing them to play this decisive encounter. Both teams will face off on Sunday, May 4, in a match that will determine the last qualifier for the quarter-finals of the Liga MX Clausura 2025 tournament. The winner will face leader Toluca, while the loser will be eliminated.
On the other hand, Pumas UNAM, under the direction of Efraín Juárez, has shown notable improvements and managed to advance in the penalty shootout in an atypical match against Juárez. The return of Sergio Canales and the potential inclusion of Sergio Ramos in the Monterrey lineup promise an exciting and contested match.
The clash between Monterrey and Pumas will take place on Sunday, May 4, at 19:30 at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, known as the Steel Giant, and will determine the last qualifier for the Liguilla of the Clausura 2025. The live broadcast will be available through various Televisa platforms such as Channel 5, TUDN, and ViX Premium.
In the last meeting between Pumas and FC Juárez, the universitarios prevailed in the penalty shootout after drawing 1-1 in regulation time. Despite the injuries that affected the team, the positive news is the return of Sergio Canales, a key player in Martín Demichelis's scheme. Pumas arrives motivated after this victory and is showing competitiveness ahead of the crucial clash with Monterrey.
