Costigan: Analyzing Pumas ahead of CCL Final first leg

The stage is set.

On Wednesday, the Seattle Sounders will look to write another chapter in the club’s prolific history by taking part in their first Concacaf Champions League Final. 

Seattle will square off against Liga MX side Pumas UNAM (7:30 p.m. PT; FS1, TUDN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM), who took out New England Revolution and fellow Mexican powerhouse Cruz Azul on their way to the Final. Pumas currently sit 12th in the league, which is the final playoff position, after two straight Liga MX defeats. Manager Andres Lillini rotated his side for the loss against San Luis last Wednesday. Despite a strong lineup at Chivas on Saturday, Pumas fell to a 3-1 defeat. 

Seattle will host Pumas in Leg Two at Lumen Field on May 4 (7:00 p.m. PT; FS1, TUDN, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS).

Let’s take a closer look at Seattle’s opponent in this historic CCL Final.

Coach

Lillini has been in charge at Pumas since July 2020. Originally an interim choice to replace outgoing manager Míchel, Lillini led the team to the final in his first season. Included in the run to the final was an incredible comeback from a 4-0 first leg deficit to 4-4 aggregate win one tiebreakers in the semifinal against Cruz Azul, highlighting the never-say-die spirit he has instilled in his team.

Pumas also knocked out Club América on their way to a semifinal run in the Apertura, losing to eventual winners Atlas after a 1-1 aggregate score saw Atlas move on as the higher seed. Lillini is animated on the sideline and can be seen having some emotional discussions with his staff throughout the game.

Goalkeeper

Alfredo Talavera may be at the veteran stage of his career, but he is still performing at a high level and remains a part of the Mexican national team setup. He is a good shot-stopper, and his leadership and calming influence were key factors in securing the scoreless tie against Cruz Azul to send Pumas to the CCL Final.

Defenders

Pumas have conceded 21 goals from 16 Liga MX games this season, tied worst among the 12 teams in the playoff positions. New England Revolutions showed in their quarterfinal clash that you can generate chances against this team, but Pumas showed marked improvement against Cruz Azul in the next round. 

The back four is built on a central defensive partnership of Nicolás Freire and Arturo Ortiz, who have a good understanding. With Ortiz suspended for the first leg in Mexico City, this is an area the Sounders can exploit. Veteran defender Efraín Velarde should start at left back and offers good balance to the attack on that side. Alan Mozo at right back is the more attack-minded full back and his delivery from wide areas was critical in the win over Cruz Azul. He is also the emotional leader of the group and looks to get the crowd going when the team need inspiration. 

Midfield

The midfield of Pumas is anchored by defensive midfielder Higor Meritão. The Brazilian does all the dirty work and does a really good job of protecting the back four with good positional play and his ability to win possession back and use the ball efficiently. 

Leonel López should partner him in the center of the park and the Argentine player provides a quality delivery on set pieces, although isn’t a huge scoring threat himself. 

Argentine playmaker Favio Álvarez rounds out the three-man central midfield. Álvarez is quick in possession and tries to dictate tempo from his No. 10 role. If Pumas are in control, Álvarez will be at the center of things, but he can be drift out of games and isn’t a real scoring threat.

Attack

The focal point is Juan Dinenno. The Argentine number 9 is the top scorer in the tournament and thrives on service from wide areas. He has a particularly good chemistry with Mozo, and he is excellent at finding space in between the center backs to attack. If fit, Dinenno is a certain starter, but the wide attacking positions will see three players battling it out for the other two attacking roles. 

Washington Corozo was electric in the first leg win over Cruz Azul, and at his very best is a huge threat in 1-v-1 situations on the left side. He also scored a double in a recent win over Monterrey, so that could seal his starting spot. 

Diogo was a real menace in the second leg against Cruz Azul as a right winger, with his physical presence and ability to dominate in the air making him a difficult matchup for any full back. The other option is the tricky Brazilian, Rogério. He started the season with a classy brace against Toluca and is a fantastic finisher in front of goal. He may be the one to miss out but would be a real threat off the bench with his goalscoring ability. Former RSL Homegrown Player Sebastian Saucedo is a versatile option in the midfield or front three.