By Tony Álvarez
Pumas will look to finish their tournament participation by spoiling one of the MLS´s top teams quest for the trophy.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
- 1st meeting between the two sides
- Record at Leagues Cup: Columbus Crew (11-2), Pumas (5-7)
LAST FIVE GAMES
- Columbus Crew:
- 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
- Pumas UNAM:
- 2 Wins, 0 Draw, 3 Losses
MAIN STORYLINES
- Columbus Crew needs a win and combination of other results to qualify to the quarterfinals.
- Pumas have been eliminated from second round contention.
- Brais Méndez has scored in both Columbus Crew Leagues Cup games.
- Columbus Crew is playing their third straight Leagues Cup match at home.
- Pumas has not scored a goal in first two Leagues Cup matches.
KEY FACTORS
- Columbus Crew:
- Brais Méndez has scored three goals since joining the team.
- Homefield advantage has proven to be determinant this season (8-2-3, including Leagues Cup).
- Attack has been looking strong as they have scored at least two goals in each of its last four matches.
- Pumas UNAM:
- Pumas has allowed five goals in this edition of the tournament.
- Esteban Solari will give playing time to players that have not seen a lot of minutes.
- Pumas will finish their Leagues Cup participation playing only three matches for a third time out of four tournaments played.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Columbus Crew will look to maintain its consistent style of play and complete a perfect Phase One as it seeks a spot in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals against an already-eliminated Pumas UNAM side. The match is scheduled for Tuesday at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field at 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
The Crew has displayed a balanced and dangerous attack throughout the tournament, with Brais Méndez emerging as one of its key contributors. The Spaniard has made an immediate impact since joining the club, adding another dimension to a Columbus attack that has featured several different threats under head coach Laurent Courtois.
Columbus opened its Leagues Cup campaign with a dominant 3-1 victory over Atlas FC before following it up with another strong performance in a 2-1 win over CF Pachuca. With back-to-back victories, confidence continues to build as The Crew enters its final Phase One match with everything still to play for.
The Crew currently sits fifth in the MLS table, just outside the four quarterfinal positions. However, with each of the top six clubs sitting on six points, the race remains wide open. Another victory could propel Columbus into the top four and secure its place in the knockout rounds.
Pumas, meanwhile, has endured a difficult tournament. UNAM entered Leagues Cup following a pair of encouraging Liga MX performances, but a 3-0 defeat to Charlotte FC on a rainy night quickly changed the outlook. Pumas showed flashes of quality in transition during its second match, but FC Cincinnati ultimately took control and earned a 2-0 victory.
Already eliminated from quarterfinal contention, the Auriazules will now look to finish their tournament on a positive note and provide a difficult final test for Columbus. After Tuesday's match, Pumas will have participated in four editions of Leagues Cup, advancing beyond three matches only once, when it played four games in 2024.
For Columbus, however, there is still plenty at stake. The Crew has been one of the strongest teams in this year's Leagues Cup, and a third consecutive victory could not only secure a quarterfinal berth but potentially send Courtois' side through as one of the highest-ranked MLS clubs in Phase One.
According to Polymarket, Columbus Crew enter as the clear favorite, earning 60% of the market ahead of Tuesday’s Leagues Cup clash. That’s compared to just 19% for Pumas UNAM, who are looking to finish their tournament on a positive note.
