Pumas - Atlas: score, goals, highlights, Liga MX Clausura 2023

FT: Pumas 2-2 Atlas

Goals from Dinneno and Diogo for the university side as Lozano and Quiñones struck for the side from Guadalajara.

The whistle sounds.... All square between Pumas and Atlas in CDMX.

Atlas remain unbeaten and their hero is keeper Vargas with his penalty stop.

Barbosa strikes but the ball is straight at Sosa in the Pumas goal.

Desperate defending now from Pumas as Atlas win a corner.

Chala makes a mess and has to foul Pumas Rubalcaba as he looks to break...

We're heading for a draw it would seem ...

It's all Atlas now as Pumas look to counter. 

The extra man now beginning to show for the visitors.

Lozano shoots again and this time the effort goes into the side netting.

We'll have 8 minutes of added time....

Still plenty of time for drama as Lozano has an ambitious long range drive...

So, is there another twist at the end of the contest?

Atlas with the wind in their sales as the push in the last minute of normal time.

Hat tip to Jesus Gomez for his delivery in the Atlas equaliser.

Delight for the visiting fans as Quiñones drives home from an excellent ball. 

Atlas equalise

Atlas still leading the possession stats (46-54 %) but Pumas ahead on the stat that really counts as the university side lead 2-1.

Atlas just five minutes away from tasting their first defeat of the 2023 Clausura.

Atlas win a corner as the clock ticks down.

Atlas make trio of subs

Quiñones rattles the Pumas bar with a header although the flag was subsequently raised.

So Atlas with 15 minutes more or less have to face 10 man Pumas.

Card for Meritao and that sees the Brazilian out of the game as he saw yellow in the first 45'.

Nasty elbow from the Pumas defender...

Ref having a word with VAR but that was reckless. 

Atlas counter and a poor deliver sees Pumas scramble away the danger.

Less than 20 on the clock as Sosa (Pumas) keeper is carded.

'Dale Pumas, Dale oooooooo' is the chant on loop from the home fans !

Atlas enjoying the penalty save ...

Benjamin Mora poised to bring on three subs.

Is that the psychological turning point in the game when Atlas now look to forge their way back into the contest.

So Vargas against Dinenno...

and the winner is .... the Colombian who pushes the ball over the bar... great save

Spot kick for Pumas is the verdict as Camilo Vargas is carded.... Atlas staring at their first defeat of the 2023 Clausura

On reflection, a penalty seems to be the coherent decision.....

The ref is still talking to the VAR officials....

Brian Lozano carded as referee Quintero goes to the VAR monitor.

Did the Colombian keeper clip the Brazilian ?

VAR being consulted

Diogo did seem to make a meal of it to be fair...

Big penalty shout for Pumas but ref says no ....

Atlas trying to carve open the Pumas defence but the men in black are looking solid in defence... 

A hint of frustration creeping into the Atlas players as the clock approaches the hour mark.

A much better game now it has to be said ...

Pumas sitting deep and looking to strike on the counter.

As things stand (2-1), Pumas would move up to third place in the table... this would be their best start to a campaign for the past five years.

Great play from Dinenno as he skips through the Atlas defence and squares the ball but Atlas keeper Vargas is alert and smothers. 

This does not look great as Sanchez seems to have sustained a muscular problem as he shakes his head... The Pumas defender heads for attention as indeed he is subbed and Pablo Bennevendo takes his place.

Change for Atlas

On: Marquez

Off: Martinez

Off we go... the second half starts...

Plenty of Atlas fans present too today in the capital and we've had one change at the break.

The teams return to the pitch at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario and we'll have more like the end of the first half as opposed to what we were served up with in the first half an hour of action.

HT: Pumas 2-1 Atlas

A frantic final ten minutes to the half sees the home side ahead through goals from Dinneno and Diogo with the Atlas goal coming via a sublime direct free from Lozano.

That's it as the whistle sounds.....Pumas lead at the interval in a game that finally caught fire after a drab opening half an hour.

Reyes is carded and is first Atlas player in the ref's notebook tonight for a rash challenge.

8 mins. of added time confirmed

Aldrete carded for back chat !

We're in added time but given the various stoppages we'll have at least 6/7 mins of added time

Pumas 1-1 Atlas

So, game on .... much better now...

Great strike from the Uruguay striker... gets the ball over the wall and the ball dips with amazing precision.

Atlas players, to be honest are quite relaxed and that maybe would not be the case had they seen the replay.

Cynical from the Pumas man and lucky to escape with just a yellow card.

Meritao gets a yellow but that could have been a red ... will VAR be called into play as blood spills from the Colombian's lip.

Foul as Atlas win a free on the edge of the box as Quiñones gets an elbow ... nasty... 

The goal a little cruel on Atlas who have probably been the better side in the opening 40 minutes or so of action.

Pumas 1-0 Atlas

Let's hope the goal from the Argentine sparks a little life into the game. 

Far from a classic today it has to be said.

Pumas break the deadlock

Good break from Pumas as Diogo latches onto ball and wins a corner

We're back underway at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario...

Blood appears to be pouring from the player's nose so play is presently held up.

Galindo catches the ball smack in the face and falls to the ground in some distress.

Pumas now enjoying more possession with just one shot on target after approximately half an hour of action....

Don't say we're heading for yet another 0-0 between these teams !

Still very much a stalemate with the bulk of the action taking place in the centre of the park.

Sosa in the Pumas goal called into action as he fists away a vicious inswinging Atlas free kick .... 

Play held up once again as Diogo goes to ground after a rugged clash with an Atlas player.

Pumas with just the one shot on target but neither keeper has really been tested this evening with limited goal mouth action so far.

Atlas dominating possession in the opening stages of the game with the 'Academica' enjoying 68% of the ball compared to the 32 of the home side.

Good news for Pumas as the defender is back on his feet and in a condition to continue.

Molina falls badly and the game is held up as he gets medical attention.

Gustavo del Prete almost latches onto a cross field ball but the bounce takes the ball away from the Argentine striker.

The pitch really is not in an ideal state....

The pitch at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario does look very dry and the ball is bouncing about with added gusto...very little rain has fallen in the Mexican capital in the past weeks as Atlas almost open a clear cut chance but Quiñones' effort is blocked by he Pumas rearguard.

Match official Sr. Quintero blows the whistle and off we go....

'Dale; dale Pumas' is the chant from the stand....

The pre-game protocol is over and we're all set for the Liga MX midday action....

The teams take to the pitch with blazing blue skies at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

Goals are what we're keen to see today with the fixture throwing up few in the past five meetings.

Not exactly a full house but decent noise levels as always from games in the south of he capital.

A 4-3-2-1 for Pumas against a 4-4-2 for the visitors.

Atlas XI

We've managed to track down an Atlas FC staring side....

Still nothing via the club's official channels which is somewhat disappointing.

Less than 20 minutes to kick-off and still no sign of a starting XI for Atlas !!!!

Pumas-Atlas, matchday weather

It's a bright sunny day in the capital city this morning and as kick off looms, we have a current temperature of 18C/64F....ideal conditions for players and supporters alike.

All set in the Atlas dressing room

Benjamin Mora's side will sport their away kit of grey with red and black sleeves, white shorts and socks today.

Still no news of the Atlas FC XI just yet.

Team news: Pumas XI

Rafael Puente names his side for today's clash against Atlas with a start for Alek Alvarez with a rare start for the 19-year-old who will sport the No. 201 shirt today.

Liga MX standings

This is how the table looks after matchday 5 with plenty of sides still to play their fifth games of the current campaign.

The boost from 3 points

A win tonight for either side would catapult them into the higher echelons of the 2023 Clausura table .... A top four finish is what all the big sides are looking for and avoid the banana skin of the wildcard/liguilla game.

Pumas-Atlas: h2h stats

Today's meeting will be the 59th between Pumas and Atlas since the inception of the Apertura and Clausura seasons.

The University side have the edge with 20 wins to the 15 for the Guadalajara side.

'Rojinegro' nation primed for the game

Following back-to-back Liga MX championships in Apertura 21 and Clausura 22, Atlas enjoyed a wretched campaign in the Apertura 22 failing to make a place in the postseason.... The 'Academica' do, however look like a better proposition under new head coach Benjamin Mora.

Pumas to sport new black kit

The side from the capital will sport their new, rather smart change kit for the home clash (I know, I know) ... this means Atlas too will be forced to wear their light grey away shirt.

Atlas: preview

As for the visitors, they are sitting in ninth place after the weekend gamesh with six points after winning one game and drawing three.

They are on a four-game unbeaten run against Toluca, Santos, Querétaro, and Mazatlán, and the last time they tasted defeat was against Chivas (0-1) in Copa MX.

Their last games against Pumas have been very tight, so it may be a good opportunity for Benjamín Mora’s squad to take advantage of their opponents’ issues in the back line, especially for forwards Julián Quiñones and Julio Furch, who will be aiming to add more goals to their tally.

Pumas: preview

The hosts go into Gameweek 5 of Liga MX after a goalless draw vs. Tijuana, which saw the team fall to the seventh spot in the standings.

Los Auriazules are looking for their third win in the Clausura, but in front of them will have a team that hasn’t lost yet, so it will be interesting to see what strategy Rafael Puente’s men bring into the game.

However, Pumas won’t have defenders Nicolás Freire through injury and Arturo Ortiz, who saw the red card in the game against Tijuana.

Goals have been something of a premium in recent meetings between both sides with just two goals in the past five meetings. Fingers crossed today's game can buck that trend.

Pumas vs Atlas: last five meetings

September 2022, Liga MX: Atlas 0-0 Pumas

February 2022, Liga MX: Atlas 0-0 Pumas

December 2021 Liga MX: Atlas 0-1 Pumas

December 2021, Liga MX: Pumas 0-1 Atlas

July 2021, Liga MX: Pumas 0-0 Atlas

Pumas-Atlas: referee

Daniel Quintero Huitrón has been nominated to oversee tonight's action at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

The 33-year-old match official has been taking charge of Liga MX games since the 2021 Apertura.

Both sides have enjoyed solid in somewhat unspectacular starts to the new season with Pumas just beaten once in their four games as Atlas are something of a draw specialists having tied of their four games. 

The side from Guadalajara remain one of the four unbeaten sides so far in the 2023 Clausura along with America, Tigres and Toluca. 

Hello and welcome to our live Liga MX coverage as Atlas Guadalajara face Pumas in CDMX with a midday (local time) start.