Pumas lose 2-0 to Pachuca in Solari's coaching debut
Pumas opened the Liga MX Apertura 2026-27 with a 2-0 home defeat to Pachuca at Estadio Olímpico Universitario, as Elías Montiel and Salomón Rondón scored in the first half. The result spoiled Esteban Solari’s debut as Pumas head coach against his former club and underlined early pressure on the Mexico City side.
The Apertura opener on 18 July carried extra edge. Solari left Pachuca after the Clausura to take charge of the university club, while Benjamín Mora began his own tenure with the visitors. Both sides arrived with unfinished Liguilla business: Pumas had eliminated Pachuca in the semi-finals before falling 2-1 on aggregate to Cruz Azul in the Clausura final.
According to Sports Mole, Montiel struck in the 21st minute and Rondón added a second in the 32nd, flipping pre-match expectations that had leaned toward the hosts.
Key Takeaways
- Pumas lost 2-0 at home to Pachuca in Matchday 1 of Apertura 2026-27.
- Elías Montiel (21’) and Salomón Rondón (32’) scored for the Tuzos.
- Esteban Solari’s first game as Pumas coach came against his former club.
- Pre-match tips had favored a Pumas win near +128, with a 2-1 correct-score lean.
- Keylor Navas started in goal for Pumas; Carlos Moreno lined up for Pachuca.
Why did this Pumas vs Pachuca opener matter?
Solari’s debut against the club he had just left gave the fixture unusual emotional weight. Pumas topped the Clausura regular season on goal difference, then suffered late heartbreak when Rodolfo Rotondi’s stoppage-time winner handed Cruz Azul the title.
Pachuca finished fourth in that Clausura and exited in the semis to Pumas, so Mora’s side also had revenge on the agenda. New signing Rodolfo Pizarro featured in the visitors’ midfield as the Tuzos sought a statement start.
What were the Pumas betting tips and odds before kickoff?
Sportsgambler’s main pick was a Pumas win at +128, with a 2-1 correct-score call at +650. Bookmakers listed the hosts around +123, the draw near +240, and Pachuca near +200, implying roughly a 45% chance of a home victory.
Other published angles included Over 2.5 goals near -132, Both Teams to Score Yes near -172, Over 9.5 corners near -106, and a player prop on Oussama Idrissi over 0.5 shots on target at +160. Those markets largely missed once Pachuca kept a clean sheet.
Which confirmed lineups did Pumas and Pachuca field?
Confirmed XI for Pumas (4-4-2): Keylor Navas; Stanley García, Nathan Silva, Rubén Duarte, Álvaro Angulo; Rodrigo López, Santiago Trigos, Francisco Córdova, Pedro Vite; Robert Morales, Juninho.
Confirmed XI for Pachuca (4-2-3-1): Carlos Moreno; Alan Mozo, Eduardo Bauermann, Sergio Barreto, Francisco Venegas; Elías Montiel, Christian Rivera; Kenedy, Rodolfo Pizarro, Oussama Idrissi; José Salomón Rondón.
Team news had flagged José Juan Macías (ACL) and Adalberto Carrasquilla (muscle) as Pumas absentees, while Alan Medina was doubtful. Pachuca had listed Andrés Micolta as uncertain after a kneecap fracture, yet still produced a ruthless first-half display that set the tone for Matchday 1.