Pumas UNAM vs Cruz Azul: TV channel, live stream, squad news & preview

All eyes once again are on Mexico City.

After Cruz Azul matched up with league leader Club America last week in a scoreless draw at the Estadio Azteca, this week La Maquina cross town to face Pumas. While Cruz Azul has attracted plenty of attention this season and currently sits third, Pumas are just one spot and one point behind in fourth.

Far from being only for bragging rights, this year's matchup between the capital clubs will be huge to determine who goes into the Liguilla with the better seed and has a better path to the ultimate goal of lifting the Liga MX trophy.

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TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

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In the United States, the game can be  watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

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Squads & Team News

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Right back Alan Mozo is fit after missing the last contest and should slot back into the starting XI for a Pumas team that is largely at 100 percent with the 21-year-old and other players who missed matches in October ready to go Sunday.

Midfielder Carlos Gutierrez is with the Mexico U-20 team.

Potential Pumas XI:  Saldivar; Mozo, Arribas, Quintana, Mendoza; Barrera, Iniestra, Malcorra, Rodriguez; Mora, Gonzalez

Cruz Azul is on short rest after lifting the Copa MX during the week with a 2-0 victory over Monterrey. Even so, with three days of rest, look for Pedro Caixinha to put out a strong team as La Maquina look to go back to the top of the league.

Right back Gerry Flores remains injured, but Jose Maduena is now accustomed to taking his spot. Misael Dominguez is with the Mexico U-20 team.

Potential Cruz Azul XI: Corona; Maduena, Dominguez, Aguilar, Aldrete; Baca, Marcone, Alvarado; Menez, Cauteruccio, Hernandez

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Match Preview

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Azael Rodriguez/

It could be a memorable week for Cruz Azul fans. After a scoreless draw with Mexico City rival Club America, La Maquina rolled up to Monterrey and came back with the Copa MX title. Now, they have a chance to beat Pumas and cap an eight-day stretch in which not only did they win a piece of silverware but also avoided defeat to its two rivals in the city.

Pumas have been sitting at home since a 1-0 victory in Tijuana last weekend. David Patino's men have quietly put together an eight-match undefeated run in league play, though it has been quiet in part because more than half of the results have been draws. 

Attacking contributions have been spread around. Carlos Gonzalez scored a hat trick against Tigres but last week's goal came from Matias Alustiza. The week before that Martin Rodriguez and former Cruz Azul forward Felipe Mora found the back of the net. Added together, Pumas have scored just one goal fewer than league leader America.

That's the same team Cruz Azul, with its league-best defense - largely shut down last week. With a base of Pablo Aguilar and Julio Dominguez in front of veteran goalkeeper Jesus Corona, Cruz Azul has allowed only 11 goals this season, fewer than a goal of game.

The team has been less successful, however, away from home. Cruz Azul hasn't won in its last five away matches and lost the last three in a row. Perhaps the shorter trip across town will help ease some of the road woes the club is suffering, but it's not a given after a busy week - a week in which the team won a road match in the cup.

It should be an intense matchup of two teams that despite having no formal rivalry are linked as grandes in the capital and, at least this season, as teams that could well be fighting for the title. There might not be much separation between them.