Club Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM: Club Necaxa Will Have To Work On Home Record

• In the last match, Club Necaxa lost 2-1 against Club America and are currently 15th on the table 
• Pumas UNAM were beaten 4-2 by Tigres UANL in the last match and are 10th on the table
• In the reverse fixture last Apertura season, Pumas UNAM beat Club Necaxa 1-0 at the Estadio Olimpico de Universitario

Club Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM Odds

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Club Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM Pick

Club Necaxa to win

Club Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM Predictions

Club Necaxa have won just one game in their last five Liga MX encounters. They have lost three and drawn one of the rest. In the last match, Club Necaxa were trailing 2-0 against Club America when Maximiliano Silver pulled one back in the 78th minute, but after that, the side could not find another strike that would have changed the outcome of the game.

Pumas UNAM have two wins this season but have won only one in their last five. They have drawn two and lost two, one of which came last time around against Tigres UANL. Gustavo Del Prete and Juan Dinenno gave it their all but could not find a decisive goal as they extended their winless streak to three games.

Both sides will be competing for the last playoff spot this season. Club Necaxa got it last season. This time around, Pumas UNAM have the better record. However, it is safe to say that Club Necaxa will nick this encounter.

Previous Meetings

In total, there have been 12 Liga MX encounters between these two sides, and the majority of them have been won by Pumas UNAM. Club Necaxa have only won on four occasions. Their last victory came when these two sides last met at the Estadio Victoria de Aguascalientes in Apertura 2021. Club Necaxa clinched a 3-0 win on that day.

Pumas UNAM’s last victory at the venue came in the Clausura 2021 when they nabbed a narrow 1-0 win. In the last five Liga MX meetings, both sides have won twice and only one game has ended in a 1-1 draw and that came in the 2020 Apertura season.

In their last five visits to the Estadio Victoria de Aguascalientes, Pumas UNAM have only won once. Club Necaxa have won twice, while the other two games have ended in draws.

Club Necaxa Will Have To Work On Home Record  

In the Apertura 2022 season, Club Necaxa lost four and won three out of their eight home games. Away from home, they only won two games in nine attempts. With a total of five wins, they somehow nabbed the final playoff spot.

However, this time around, the competition is fierce. It will take something extra to finish in the top 12. If Club Necaxa are only able to focus on their home form this season and take maximum points from their nine games at the Estadio Victoria de Aguascalientes, they could easily nab a playoff spot.

The next game could turn out to be the perfect one to start because after the game against Pumas UNAM, Club Necaxa’s next home game will come against a winless Queretaro FC side.

Tactical Cohesion Needed Amidst All The Confusion  

In the last five matches, Club Necaxa have taken the field with four different formations. Manager Andres Lillini has played a 4-2-3-1, a 4-4-1-1, a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 in the last five games, out of which Club Necaxa won just one game.

The players need cohesion on the pitch but the constant changes in formation and tactics are adding confusion and not allowing players to settle into the game. If Lillini and Club Necaxa want to put serious points on the board, they will have to stick to a core formation.

Gimenez Needs More Game Time  

In the last game, Club Necaxa fielded a front three of Heriberto Jurado, Facundo Batista, and Edgar Mendez. Meanwhile, Milton Gimenez was not even on the bench. The striker has started only one game so far this season.

In the Apertura 2022 season, Gimenez was Club Necaxa’s second-highest goalscorer with four goals. In addition to that, the Argentine also added a couple of assists to his pocket. It is high time the club sees the attacking duo of Batista and Gimenez up front.

Next Five Games Key For Pumas UNAM

In the Apertura 2022 season, Pumas UNAM won only two games the entire season. Six games into the Clausura 2023 season, Pumas UNAM have already matched their last season's winning record, highlighting the slight improvement in the team’s performance.

Pumas UNAM can add more wins to their tally and it could happen during the next five games. Club Necaxa are struggling in the league. After that, Pumas UNAM will face CD Guadalajara, who could be a tough nut to crack. But after that, Pumas UNAM will face strugglers Mazatlan, Puebla, and Cruz Azul.

This run of fixtures will present Pumas UNAM with a glorious opportunity to pick up a few points that could help them chase a playoff spot this season. If they can nab wins and gain momentum, the final few fixtures of the season could turn out to be close encounters.

Still Looking For Their First Away Win  

Pumas UNAM went the entire Apertura 2022 season without a win on the road. In eight away games, Pumas UNAM drew four and lost four. They conceded 16 goals and managed to score just ten.

Six games into the Clausura 2023 season, the barren run away from home continues for Pumas UNAM. At home, they have won two out of their three games and drawn the other one, signifying an unbeaten record at home so far this season.

However, away from home, it has been the complete opposite. Out of the three games played so far, Pumas UNAM have lost two and drawn one. As their goal difference at home is +4, their goal difference away from home is -5.

Diogo The Perfect Replacement For Salvio?

Towards the end of January, Eduardo Salvio suffered a hamstring injury that saw him get sidelined for a month. Till the winger recuperates and returns to the starting lineup, striker Diogo has slotted in on the flank, a position he is already familiar with.

It is no big secret that the absence of Salvio at this stage will be a big blow for Pumas UNAM. However, having a front three of Gustavo Del Prete, Juan Dinenno, and Diogo cushions the blow. Del Prete and Dinenno were both on the scoresheet in the last game.

How to Watch Club Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM

• Teams: Club Necaxa vs Pumas UNAM
• Location: Estadio Victoria de Aguascalientes
• Time: Wednesday, February 15 at 10:05 pm ET
• How to watch: Univision networks TUDN and UniMas, ESPN Deportes, Telemundo and Fox Deportes