Only two playoff spots have been secured in Liga MX, but Sunday's matinee between Toluca and Pumas features two sides currently in the Liguilla places.
Locking up a spot ahead of what looks to be a frantic final weekend is a priority for both sides.
While playing on Sunday will give them a better idea of what's needed, it should still be an exciting match between teams that are harboring reasonable hopes of a deep postseason run.
| Game | Toluca vs Pumas |
| Date | Sunday, November 11 |
| Time | 12 p.m. ET |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In the United States, the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial).
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| Univision, Univision Deportes Network | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Toluca players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Talavera, Pasquel, Garcia |
| Defenders | Tobio, Garcia, Gonzalez, Acosta, Ruiz, Borja, Salinas, Calvo |
| Midfielders | Da Silva, Sambueza, Rios, Dominguez, Quinones, Barrientos, Medina |
| Forwards | Mendoza, Vega, Escoto, Cabrera, Triverio, Canelo |
A few injury concerns linger for Toluca. Veteran Rubens Sambueza has ongoing issues in his left hamstring, while centre-back Fernando Tobio and forward Alexis Canelo also missed time in training this week.
Potential Toluca XI: Talavera; Salinas, Gonzalez, Tobio, Garcia; Mendoza, Rios, Da Silva, Quinones; Vega, Barrientos.
| Position | Pumas players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Saldivar, Castillo, Magana, Fraga |
| Defenders | Mozo, Arribas, Quintana, Mendoza, Jacquez, Dominguez, Gonzalez, Cota |
| Midfielders | Escamilla, Cabrera, Malcorra, Figueroa, Iniestra, Rodriguez, Gutierrez, Acosta, Lozano |
| Forwards | Barrera Mora, Alustiza, Iturba, Hernandez, Gonzalez |
Kevin Escamilla remains out with an injury. Midfielder Carlos Gutierrez is with the Mexico U-20 team.
Alan Mendoza was hauled off after half an hour last week against Cruz Azul, and his starting role may be in question.
Potential Pumas XI: Saldivar; Mozo, Arribas, Quintana, Mendoza; Barrera, Iniestra, Malcorra, Rodriguez; Mora, Gonzalez.
Match Preview
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It's the Clascio Domingo, with the two teams who play their matches on Sunday afternoon going head to head in their typical time slot. Both clubs are in the playoff places, but neither has been labeled a true title contender by the mainstream press.
That's because, while results have been strong, dominant performances have been lacking. Toluca's draw with America last week is a perfect example. While the result, a 1-1 stalemate in the Estadio Azteca, is a good one, Toluca were defending for the bulk of the second half - even when Rubens Sambueza came on for the final 30 minutes.
Pumas have had similar problems, but are coming off of a defeat to Mexico City rivals Cruz Azul last week. David Patino's men have found a way to score with Felipa Mora scoring seven and Carlos Gonzalez adding six over the course of the season. At the back, things have been more fragile, especially when injury strikes as it has for every member of Patino's first-choice back four.
While the goal of topping the league at the end of the regular season is out of reach, each team know they can get hot at the right time and challenge for the league title. For Toulca, getting Sambueza back to full health could be key towards that effort. It may mean another start for Luis "Quick" Mendoza on the right wing opposite Luis Quinones rather than risking the Argentine veteran. That may put pressure on Pumas' full-backs, both of whom were replaced in last week's match against Cruz Azul.
The teams do have the advantage of seeing what's required after Saturday's full slate of action, but a win will almost certainly lock up a playoff place while defeat could set up a nervous finish to the season for the two clubs, both of whom harbor big aspirations.
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