
Pumas UNAM host Necaxa at Estadio Olimpico Universitario on Sunday, August 23 (9:00 PM ET / 8:00 PM CT / 6:00 PM PT).
There are no fresh fitness concerns on either side heading into this one. Pumas UNAM can call on the front-foot trio of Juninho, Victor Arteaga and Sebastian Cordova, while Robert Morales’ service from midfield has produced 3 assists already this season. Necaxa, with no availability issues of their own, will lean on Julian Carranza to lead the line after a hot start in front of goal.
Both teams have found the net through more than one source already this term, and with Juninho and Carranza both up to three goals apiece, there’s every reason to expect this one to open up rather than lock down. Pumas UNAM’s +2 goal difference points to an attack capable of turning a tight game their way, and the Estadio Olimpico Universitario should see goals at both ends before the home side edge it.
US viewers can watch Pumas UNAM vs Necaxa on ViX, TUDN or Fox.
Pumas UNAM vs Necaxa: Best Bets & Predictions
Goals look nailed on at the Olimpico Universitario, and our Signal model has Pumas UNAM edging it 2-1 with Necaxa also finding the net.
Our approach: we weigh both sides' early-season underlying output — shots, chances created and where the goals have come from — alongside our Signal model's process to land on these five picks.
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Season Form & Standings
Pumas UNAM and Necaxa arrive locked together on seven points from four games apiece, with two wins, one draw and one loss each so far this term. The separator is goal difference: Pumas sit on +2 compared to Necaxa’s 0, a small but real edge in the home side’s favor.
Liga MX
| Team | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pumas UNAM | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 7 |
| Necaxa | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
Potential Match-Winners
- Juninho (Pumas UNAM): Juninho has scored 3 goals in just 313 minutes for Pumas UNAM, putting 3 of his 5 shots on target in that span.
- Robert Morales (Pumas UNAM): Robert Morales has created 4 chances and provided 3 assists in 345 minutes, the clearest creative outlet in the Pumas UNAM side.
- Julian Carranza (Necaxa): Julian Carranza carries Necaxa’s threat with 3 goals from 9 shots, 5 of them on target, in just 225 minutes.
Recent Form
Pumas UNAM: L W W D
- 2026-08-16: Pumas UNAM 0-0 Queretaro FC (D, home)
- 2026-07-31: FC Juarez 1-5 Pumas UNAM (W, away)
- 2026-07-21: Toluca 1-2 Pumas UNAM (W, away)
- 2026-07-18: Pumas UNAM 0-3 Pachuca (L, home)
Pumas UNAM’s form reads L W W D across their last 4 matches, beginning with an 0-3 home defeat to Pachuca before back-to-back wins away at Toluca (2-1) and FC Juarez (5-1), and finishing with a 0-0 draw at home to Queretaro FC most recently.
Necaxa: W W L
- 2026-08-02: Toluca 3-1 Necaxa (L, away)
- 2026-07-26: Necaxa 2-1 Monterrey (W, home)
- 2026-07-16: Necaxa 2-1 Atlante FC (W, home)
Necaxa’s own form reads W W L, with home wins over Atlante FC (2-1) and Monterrey (2-1) either side of a 3-1 defeat away at Toluca to close out that sequence.
Pumas UNAM vs Necaxa Prediction
Our Signal model backs Pumas UNAM to win this one 2-1, with Juninho among the players most likely to get on the scoresheet for the hosts and Julian Carranza doing the same at the other end. Both sides have shown they can score against good opposition, and with Pumas UNAM’s 7 points and +2 goal difference giving them the platform to control the game at the Estadio Olimpico Universitario, the head-to-head numbers point to a home win in which both teams find the net.



