Survival & Shock: Liga MX Play-In Delivers Late Drama
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Two wild matches. Two narrow finishes. One spot left.
The Liga MX Clausura Play-In round delivered drama, comebacks, red cards, and one huge upset. Here’s your full recap and a look ahead to Sunday night’s high-stakes match between Monterrey and Pumas!
🧨 Match 1: Juárez 1(1) - 1(2) Pumas UNAM (ET, Pens)
Pumas escaped Ciudad Juárez by the skin of their claws.
Despite being completely dominated in possession (31%) and registering only one shot on target across 120 minutes, Pumas clawed their way to a 1-1 draw and triumphed 2-1 on penalties. The hero? Guillermo Martínez Ayala, who bagged an early brace (16’, 35’) and then stepped up in the shootout.
Juárez, despite having 69% possession and nearly doubling Pumas’ passes, simply couldn’t find the finishing edge—highlighted by a late red card in extra time to Dieter Villalpando (102’). Two red cards and some wasteful finishing sent them packing.
Stat of the Match: Pumas had just 1 shot on target in 120 minutes... and still won.
🔥 Match 2: Monterrey 1 - 2 Pachuca
If one match was a survival job, the other was a late ambush.
Pachuca shocked Monterrey with two late goals (Eduardo 82’, Rondón 87’) to flip the script after Germán Berterame gave Rayados the lead just after halftime. Despite having fewer shots (13 vs 22) and lower possession (45% vs 55%), Monterrey looked in control—until they didn’t.
Pachuca’s relentlessness in the final third (8 shots on target) exposed a shaky Monterrey backline and set them up for the No. 7 seed in the liguilla. Monterrey, meanwhile, now faces a do-or-die rematch scenario.
Stat of the Match: Pachuca scored twice in five minutes to complete the comeback.
👀 Looking Ahead: Monterrey vs. Pumas UNAM
🗓 Sunday, May 4 | 🕢 6:30PM PT
The stakes? The winner claims the final liguilla spot and a shot at the title.
Monterrey enters bruised and frustrated after their collapse vs. Pachuca. But they’ll be at home, and statistically speaking, far more dangerous than Pumas. Rayados had 5 shots on target and 13 total attempts vs. Pachuca—more than Pumas managed in their entire play-in match.
But never count out Pumas. They’re gritty, opportunistic, and appear to thrive in chaos. Martínez Ayala is in fine form, and their defensive resilience could frustrate Monterrey again.
As always, the CABRA boys have your best bets lined up for the weekend below!
Rodrigo Huescas Could Be In Trouble…
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LOCK OF THE WEEK
Monterrey vs Pumas
Who Claims the Final Liguilla Spot?
Monterrey and Pumas meet on Sunday night with a spot in the Liguilla on the line, and both teams enter the clash on uneven footing. Pumas eked past Juárez on penalties despite having just one shot on target in 120 minutes, showing grit but little attacking bite. They've collected five points from their last five matches and remain unbeaten in their last two at home, but their offense has been inconsistent. Still, with six goals in their last five and a BTTS (both teams to score) rate of 51% this season, they’re capable of keeping things interesting if the match opens up.
Monterrey, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after blowing a second-half lead in a 2-1 loss to Pachuca. Despite the result, Rayados have been in stronger overall form—scoring eight goals across their last five matches and averaging 1.8 points per game in that stretch. They’ve scored in nine straight contests and have a higher season-long BTTS rate (68%), suggesting we’re in for an open and competitive match. If they can avoid another late-game collapse, Monterrey’s control of possession and attacking depth should be enough to tilt the balance.
Given Monterrey's recent form and offensive consistency, they enter as slight favorites. Pumas will rely on home-field energy and moments of individual brilliance to stay in the fight, but the edge in quality and momentum sits with Rayados. Expect a scrappy, back-and-forth affair, but Monterrey’s firepower should ultimately secure a 2-1 win and a place in the Liguilla.
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