Chivas has continued to build momentum throughout the Apertura 2026. After seven Jornada matches, Guadalajara is firmly in the race for the superliderato after climbing into second place with 14 points, courtesy of 4 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat.
Beyond the results, Gabriel Milito’s side has shown steady footballing improvement from match to match, establishing itself as a balanced team with the second-most potent offense and the third-best defense in the tournament. On top of that, Guadalajara’s historical record against Pumas in the Perla de Occidente is overwhelmingly positive.
Here are 3 reasons to trust Chivas to defeat Pumas in Jornada 8 of the Liga MX.
An Offense That Is Firing on All Cylinders
One of Guadalajara’s biggest strengths this tournament has been its ability to create and capitalize on scoring opportunities. El Rebaño has scored 12 goals after seven Jornada matches, making it the second-best offense in the competition. A significant portion of that production has come from two players enjoying excellent form: Ricardo Marín and Roberto Alvarado, with 4 goals each.
A Defense That Keeps Matches Under Control
Raúl Rangel and the rojiblanca backline have continued to show solid organization. With just 6 goals conceded, they remain one of the strongest defensive units in the tournament.
‘Tala’ continues to establish himself as Mexico’s top goalkeeper. Against San Luis, he prevented 1 goal, recorded his third clean sheet of the tournament and reached 34 matches without conceding a goal in a rojiblanca jersey.
La Fortaleza Rojiblanca, a Wall When Pumas Comes to Town
Guadalajara has turned Estadio AKRON into a genuine fortress against the universitarios in Liga MX matches. Since 2010, the two sides have faced each other 19 times at the Casa de los Mexicanos, with Guadalajara earning 10 wins, 8 draws and just 1 defeat.
In fact, El Rebaño is currently riding a 9-match unbeaten streak at home against UNAM, with 6 wins and 3 draws. During that run, the Guadalajara side has scored 19 goals while conceding just 6.
