Liga MX: Pumas, America quarterfinal standout

Pumas vs America highlight Liga MX Apertura 2021 quarterfinals

The Liga MX quarterfinals are finally set. The wildcard duels are now part of the past and everything is ready for the start the quarterfinal games, with the “Clasico Capitalino” between Pumas and America the standout.

The first leg of the quarterfinals of the ‘Liguilla’ will take place on Nov. 24-25, while the return matches will take place on Nov. 27-28.

Before talking about the upcoming rivalry between America and Pumas, we should mention the other three games as well.

First , we have the second overall Atlas facing Monterrey, the team that just knocked out the reigning champion Cruz Azul in the wildcard game. Third overall Leon will face Puebla, the team that eliminated one of the most beloved teams in Chivas and finally one of the favorites, Tigres will be challenged by Santos Laguna in a northern classic.

The true highlight of these quarterfinal games is the “Clasico Capitalino.”

America heads into the match as the best team in the Apertura 2021 tournament, piling up an impressive 35 points (six more than Atlas, as result of 10 wins, five draws and only two losses). Meanwhile, Pumas are the complete opposite (five victories, six draws, six losses) as they qualified for the wildcard phase by winning their last game of the regular season in a breathtaking victory against Cruz Azul.

All odds favor America in both games. However, let’s face it, this is the Liga MX, probably the only league where anyone can beat anyone. That includes the bottom team beating the top seed. So let’s take a look at their recent history to try and predict the outcome of these playoff matches.

Since 2000, the two Mexico city rivals have squared off on 56 occasions. America has the upper hand, winning 25 games compared to 12 for Pumas with 19 ties. These results include three previous encounters in the quarterfinals where the Águilas won all three with the most recent coming in the 2018 Clausura.

History is tipped in America’s favor. They have won four out of their last 10 encounters including a humiliating 6-1 victory in a semifinals in the 2018 Apertura . As for this season’s game, the “Azulcremas” also ended up with a 2-0 victory .

All this being said, Pumas is the team with most “success” recently, as they reached the finals only two tournaments ago — losing in the 2020 Apertura to Leon — but their rival hasn’t been part of the last game of the season since four tournaments ago (Apertura 2019) which they also lost.

Let’s also remember that the Pumas have some momentum from their last two games, so they should be in prime form to take on their hated rivals. First, the already mentioned 4-3 against Cruz Azul, and recently their 2-1 wildcard victory at Toluca. Meanwhile, America hasn’t played in 20 days, which might make them a little bit rusty for Wednesday’s first leg.

Then there’s the Liga MX “playoff curse.” The No. 1 seed hardly ever gets the title at the end, and that is bad news for America and some motivation for Pumas.

Out of the 72 Liguillas played so far, only on 22 occasions (almost 30 percent), distributed among 11 clubs, the leader was crowned champion. However, America is one of the teams that managed to lift the cup at the end. They’ve done it on five occasions with the last one in Apertura 2014. Before, they achieved it in the 1970-71, 1975-76, 1983-84 and 1987-88 campaigns.

With everything being said, America has to be the clear favorite to win both games. History and actuality says it. However, Pumas are motivated after two great wins and in the Liga MX, anything can happen. Let’s just hope this ends up being a very entertaining quarterfinal matchup.