Pumas-León: Cat fight for Liga MX supremacy
Unbeaten UNAM visits Esmeraldas in top Matchday 11 tilt
The Liga MX spotlight is shining brightly on Saturday night’s Super Clásico, and that makes sense. A national derby always deserves special attention.
The best game of Matchday 11, however, will be on Monday night when in-form León hosts the league-leading Pumas. The visitors are the only unbeaten team in Liga MX after 10 matches (6-4-0) but the Esmeraldas are playing the best fútbol, dominant with possession and very clean at the back.
The clubs are No. 1 and No. 2 in our most recent Liga MX Power Rankings.
That the Pumas sit atop Liga MX is a major surprise after their head coach quit just days before the Guardianes 2020 season kicked off. Management installed the club’s academy coach – Andrés Lillini – while conducting a frantic search, but eventually decided to keep Lillini in place.
The move has paid off for UNAM, especially since it had committed to using home-grown kids as a result of the financial crunch caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Lillini has managed his apprentices with aplomb and they have rewarded him with solid performances.
The Pumas had the youngest roster in Liga MX heading into the season and three youngsters – Erik Lira (20), Amaury García (18) and Jerónimo Rodríguez (21) – have made their senior debuts, while other “Pumitas” – Carlos Gutiérrez (21) and Jesús Rivas (23) have made big contributions.
As the season opened, pundits wondered if the emergency coach would be able to handle veterans and match wits with first division coaches. So far, Lillini has proven his doubters wrong.
His decision to bench striker Carlos González against the Tigres did not produce dissension or locker-room turmoil. Instead, González came on late to tally the equalizer. He was immediately returned to the starting 11 and has been a sparkplug in the club’s ensuing 4-game win streak.
UNAM has been far from flashy, but the “Gold-and-Blue” have been methodical and irrepressible, and once they gain an edge they don’t release their prey. The Pumas have outscored their opponents 12-2 during their current 4-game win streak.
Class of the Liga MX
In León, coach Ignacio Ambriz should be recognized for his patience and his flexibility. A few key players – most notably right back Fernando Navarro who had contracted the virus – were unavailable when the season started and the offense sputtered.
The Esmeraldas scored only 4 goals through their first 6 matches despite dominating possession, controlling tempo and creating chances. Ambriz never panicked, confident that the club would start clicking up front soon enough.
The León defense is another story. La Fiera has demonstrated a ferocity at the back – led by William Tesillo and Stevin Barreiro – while displaying a disciplined team defense philosophy. When a rare breakdown has occurred, goalie Rodolfo Cota has been there to shut the door, producing five clean sheets in 10 games.
Veteran Luis Montes has been a dynamo in midfield, masterfully directing the offense while controlling tempo. His vision and understanding allow him to push the attack as soon as an advantage arises or he’ll slow down a possession to sustain pressure and probe for weaknesses.
New forwards Emmanuel Gigliotti and Nico Sosa have been slow to catch up to the offensive concepts, but “Puma” Gigliotti scored twice in León’s last game.