Pumas head to play-in with history on their side
Pumas face Pachuca in the Apertura 2025 play-in round - a rematch of the teams’ clash in the Clausura 2024.
en.as.comHere’s the latest I can share based on recent match reports and highlights up to late 2025.
Direct answer
- In the Apertura 2025 Play-In phase, Pachuca beat UNAM Pumas 3-1 to advance, eliminating Pumas from the tournament. This was the first leg of the Play-In, effectively ending Pumas’ participation in Apertura 2025.[4]
Context and what it means
- The Play-In results determined which teams moved on to the Liga MX Liguilla (playoffs). Pachuca’s 3-1 win over Pumas in late Nov 2025 secured Pachuca’s spot in the next stage, while Pumas were eliminated.[4]
- Match reports and live recaps from that period show Pachuca taking control with an early lead and maintaining pressure, while Pumas struggled to respond in the Play-In encounter.[4]
Notable moments from the Play-In
- Pachuca opened the scoring and built a lead before halftime, then defended well in the second half to seal the victory.[4]
- For Pumas, the result ended their Apertura 2025 campaign; reports highlight defensive lapses and limited attacking output in that decisive match.[4]
Related background (for orientation)
- Prior to the Play-In, Pachuca and Pumas had both featured in Apertura 2025 with mixed results; several highlights and analyses from mid-to-late 2025 track their forms leading into the Play-In.[1][2][6]
- Television highlights and live blogs from July 2025 show both teams’ regular-season performances, though those are separate from the Play-In outcome that decided the championship run for Apertura 2025.[2][6]
If you’d like, I can compile a concise timeline of Pachuca vs Pumas matches throughout Apertura 2025 and map how each game influenced their Play-In position, or pull a short set of key quotes and goal moments from the Play-In match. I can also provide a table summarizing the Play-In results across all teams to give broader context.