Pumas UNAM Dominate Santos Laguna In Four Goal Rout

The Estadio Olímpico Universitario buzzed with anticipation on the evening of Friday, January 30, 2026, as Pumas UNAM welcomed Santos Laguna in what many had billed as one of the most intriguing fixtures of Jornada 4 in the Liga MX Clausura 2026. With kickoff set for 21:00 local time in Mexico City, fans poured into the stands, eager to witness whether the home side could finally secure a victory on their own turf after two previous draws this season. For Santos Laguna, the stakes were equally high—they arrived desperate to snap a staggering 700-day winless streak on the road, their last away triumph dating all the way back to March 1, 2024.

Despite the electric atmosphere, supporters across Mexico faced a modern twist: no television broadcast was available for this clash. Instead, the exclusive rights belonged to the streaming platform ViX Premium, making it the only channel for fans to catch the action live. Those unable to stream could tune in via radio, with La Caliente 92.3 FM in Torreón and W Radio in Mexico City offering live commentary. The absence of TV coverage was a talking point in itself, but it did little to dampen the spirits of those in attendance or following along online.

Pumas UNAM entered the match with a clear goal: reconnect with their loyal fan base and build on a respectable start to the campaign that had seen them notch a win and two draws, placing them seventh in the standings. The team, led by head coach Efraín Juárez, has been striving to end a 15-year title drought, a mission that has seen them reinforce their squad, most notably with the recent acquisition of Uriel Antuna from Santos Laguna. The narrative was further spiced up by the return of Jordan Carrillo, a former Santos player, now donning Pumas colors and set to face his old teammates for the first time.

On the other side, Santos Laguna, under the guidance of Francisco Rodríguez, were eager to turn their fortunes around. They had yet to taste victory in the tournament, having suffered two defeats and managed just a single draw. The international break had given both coaches a rare chance to fine-tune tactics and integrate new faces, setting the stage for a fiercely contested encounter.

Team news ahead of kickoff revealed a significant omission for Pumas: key forward Pedro Vite was left out of the squad. While no official injury was reported, sources indicated that the decision was tactical. This opened the door for Mexican striker Robert Morales to step up and form a new-look attacking partnership with Brazilian forward Juninho. The starting lineup for Pumas featured Keylor Navas in goal, backed by Jesús Rivas, Nathan Duarte, Ángulo, Jordan Carrillo, César Garza, Carrasquilla, Alan Medina, Morales, and Juninho. For Santos Laguna, Acevedo started between the posts, with Abella, Orona, Balanta, Amione, Gruezo, Aldo López, Bullaude, Villalba, Sordo, and Ocejo completing the eleven.

From the opening whistle, Pumas set the tone with high energy and aggressive pressing. Just 12 minutes in, Jordan Carrillo delivered a poetic moment, scoring against his former club to give Pumas the lead. The goal not only ignited the home crowd but also set the narrative for the evening: would Carrillo haunt his old teammates all night?

Momentum quickly swung further in Pumas’ favor. At the 21st minute, Carrasquilla doubled the advantage, finishing off a slick attacking move. Santos Laguna, already reeling, had a golden chance to respond when Ocejo found himself just a meter from goal—only to send his shot straight into the safe hands of Keylor Navas. It was a miss that would come back to haunt the visitors.

By the 31st minute, Pumas were in full control. Carrillo struck again, netting his second of the night and Pumas’ third, effectively putting the match out of reach before halftime. The Santos defense looked shell-shocked, unable to contain the relentless Pumas attack. As the first half drew to a close, the home fans could sense that a long-awaited home victory was within reach.

The second half saw both managers ring the changes, with Santos introducing Ortega, Dájome, and Echeverría, while Pumas later brought on Antuna, Caicedo, and Ramírez to keep legs fresh. Santos’ woes deepened when goalkeeper Acevedo was forced off after a painful ball to the face, replaced by Holguín. Despite the adversity, the visitors tried to mount a response, but Navas was equal to everything thrown his way, including a spectacular save in the 85th minute to deny Dájome what looked like a certain goal.

Pumas continued to push for more, and in the 40th minute, Alan Medina capped off the scoring with a well-taken finish to make it 4-0. The home side’s dominance was complete, with the crowd roaring approval for every pass, tackle, and shot. The final whistle blew after three minutes of added time, confirming a resounding victory for Pumas UNAM—one that not only ended their home drought but also sent a message to the rest of the league.

For Santos Laguna, the defeat extended their agonizing run without an away win to over 700 days, a statistic that will surely weigh heavily on the squad and coaching staff. The absence of key forward Lucas Di Yorio due to illness didn’t help matters, and the team’s inability to capitalize on rare chances underscored their struggles in front of goal.

After the match, head coach Efraín Juárez praised his team’s spirit and execution, choosing to highlight the tactical discipline and the contributions of players stepping into new roles. "The boys showed great character tonight," he remarked, emphasizing the importance of building on this momentum as the season progresses.

The win lifted Pumas further up the standings and provided a timely boost as they continue their quest to end a decade-and-a-half title drought. With a reinforced squad and a passionate fan base behind them, the Universitarios look poised to make a serious challenge in this year’s Clausura. For Santos Laguna, the search for answers continues as they look to regroup and finally break their away curse.

As the lights dimmed over Estadio Olímpico Universitario, Pumas fans left with broad smiles, savoring a night when everything clicked. The road ahead is long, but on this Friday night in Mexico City, hope and ambition burned brighter than ever for the home side.