Estadio Hidalgo was buzzing with anticipation on Thursday night as Pachuca and Pumas UNAM squared off in the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura 2026 semifinals. The stakes couldn’t have been higher—Pachuca, nearly invincible at home all season, faced off against the regular season’s top seed, a Pumas side that boasted the league’s best away record. With contrasting tactical philosophies and key players missing, fans expected a tense, tactical chess match. And that’s exactly what they got.
The match, broadcast live on TUDN and streamed through DirecTV Stream, kicked off at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, with soccer fans across the United States tuning in. For those without a subscription, DirecTV Stream offered a free trial for first-time users, ensuring nobody missed out on this high-stakes showdown.
Pachuca came into the clash after a dominant quarterfinal performance against Toluca, winning 3-0 on aggregate. Despite stumbling in the final two matchdays of the regular season, the Tuzos had transformed Estadio Hidalgo into a fortress, losing just once at home all campaign. Their style? High crossing volume and rapid vertical transitions, spearheaded by creative talisman Oussama Idrissi and the physically imposing Salomón Rondón.
Pumas UNAM, meanwhile, survived a wild playoff against archrival Club América, advancing after a 6-6 aggregate draw thanks to their superior regular-season finish. Under coach Efraín Juárez’s disciplined approach, Pumas had built a reputation for patient midfield build-ups and a stingy defense that conceded only 17 goals all tournament. However, the university side entered this semifinal missing their top scorers, Guillermo Martínez and José Macías, due to World Cup training camp and injury. That left Robert Morales to lead the line, a striker known for his work rate but not quite the clinical edge of the usual starters.
Lineups for both teams reflected these realities. Pachuca’s starting XI featured Carlos Moreno in goal; a back four of Carlos Sánchez, Sergio Barreto, Eduardo Bauermann, and Brian García; a midfield trio of Christian Rivera, Víctor Guzmán, and Elías Montiel; with Oussama Idrissi, Kenedy, and Salomón Rondón forming the attacking trident. For Pumas, Keylor Navas anchored the defense behind Rodrigo López, Nathan Silva, Rubén Duarte, and Álvaro Angulo. The midfield was marshaled by Uriel Antuna, Pedro Vite, Adalberto Carrasquilla, and Jordan Carrillo, with Juninho and Robert Morales up front.
From the opening whistle, Pachuca pressed the attack, looking to exploit Pumas’ personnel crisis and defensive fatigue from their previous high-intensity series. Early on, the Tuzos tested Navas with a flurry of corners and long-range efforts. The breakthrough came in the first half, and it was a moment of magic from their creative engine. In the 32nd minute, following a corner, Víctor Guzmán laid the ball off for Oussama Idrissi, who unleashed a right-footed rocket from outside the box. The ball sailed past Navas and nestled into the bottom left corner—Pachuca 1, Pumas UNAM 0. The Estadio Hidalgo erupted as Idrissi wheeled away in celebration, his teammates mobbing him at the corner flag.
Pachuca nearly doubled their lead before halftime, with Kenedy and Rondón both forcing saves from Navas. The Pumas keeper, a veteran with Champions League pedigree, kept his side in the contest with a series of acrobatic stops. On the other end, Pumas struggled to create clear-cut chances. Morales, often isolated by Pachuca’s high press, managed a speculative shot from distance, but Carlos Moreno was equal to the task.
The second half saw Pumas push forward with greater urgency, but Pachuca’s defensive structure held firm. The match turned feisty, with both sides racking up fouls and yellow cards. Jordan Carrillo and Álvaro Angulo were both cautioned for the visitors, while Pachuca’s Eduardo Bauermann found himself at the center of controversy. Midway through the half, Bauermann committed a foul on Juninho, and after a VAR review, his yellow card was upgraded to red, leaving Pachuca to defend their slender lead with ten men for the final stretch.
"We knew it would be a battle," said Pachuca coach after the match, reflecting on the team’s resilience. "Our players showed incredible character, especially after going down to ten. Idrissi’s goal was pure quality, and the whole team fought for every ball."
As the clock ticked down, Pumas threw everything forward. They forced a series of corners and came closest to equalizing when Rubén Duarte’s left-footed shot from the center of the box was brilliantly saved by Moreno. Substitute Gael Álvarez replaced Idrissi to shore up the midfield, while Luis Quiñones came on for Kenedy, who had picked up a knock. For Pumas, César Garza and Uriel Antuna were introduced to inject fresh legs and attacking intent.
The tension was palpable during six minutes of added time, announced by the fourth official. Every clearance, every block, and every tackle was met with roars from the home crowd. A late flurry of chances for both sides saw Rondón and Bennevendo fire just wide, but the scoreline held firm.
When the final whistle blew, Pachuca’s players embraced, knowing they had taken a crucial step toward the final. For Pumas, the narrow defeat stung, but with the return leg looming in Mexico City, the tie remains delicately poised. Their away goal drought and lack of finishing punch were evident, but their defensive discipline kept the deficit manageable.
For the neutrals, this semifinal delivered on its promise: tactical intrigue, individual brilliance, and a dramatic red card that leaves everything to play for in the second leg. Pachuca’s home dominance continues, but Pumas’ road savvy and pedigree suggest the battle is far from over.
With Estadio Hidalgo still reverberating from the night’s drama, attention now shifts to the return leg. Can Pumas overturn the deficit at home, or will Pachuca’s defensive grit and attacking flair carry them to the Liga MX Clausura 2026 final? One thing’s for sure—the next chapter in this rivalry is set to be just as thrilling.