Preview: Pumas vs Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

Two sides that have never lost a Leagues Cup group fixture before in normal time will square off for the first time on Wednesday as Pumas take on Orlando City at Inter & Co Stadium.

In the 2024 edition of this tournament, the Mexicans were eliminated in the round of 16 by the Seattle Sounders (4-0), while Orlando lost on penalties in the previous phase versus Cruz Azul.

Match preview

After a rough start to the 2025 Liga MX Apertura campaign, losing their opening two games, Pumas collected their first points on Friday, defeating Queretaro 2-0.

That moved them up to 15th in the table in what was their first league victory since April, when they blanked Santos Laguna 2-0 in their final home game of that Clausura season.

Efrain Juarez had seen his team lose their previous two away matches in Liga MX before Friday, and the former Pumas player will seek consecutive triumphs on Wednesday for only the second time since taking charge.

In three of their four group fixtures at this tournament, Universitarios have conceded the opening goal and managed to come away with points, while they won their only group fixture when drawing first blood, 3-0 versus MLS side DC United in 2023.

Wednesday will be their fifth group encounter in this competition, and the Mexicans have managed to find the back of the net in each of those prior instances.

Their defeat to Seattle last year was the first time that Pumas had lost to an MLS opponent away from home in this competition and the first time they had failed to score against an American team.

An unpredictable regular season for Orlando City appears to have turned around in recent weeks, with the Lions on a solid run domestically at present.

Oscar Pareja’s side dropped points in three of their first four league contests this year, but enter this match on a two-game domestic winning run, conceding just a single goal in both outings.

The Lions have emerged victorious in each of their previous four group contests at the Leagues Cup, finishing on top of their group both times with five points.

At the same time, they have won just one of their three opening games at this tournament in normal time, claiming a convincing 4-1 triumph over CF Montreal in 2024.

That was the only time this team had triumphed from a Leagues Cup affair at home after 90 minutes, and they are winless in their previous four MLS fixtures at Inter & Co Stadium.

Only once in the history of this tournament have they beaten a Mexican side at home in normal time, coming away with a 3-0 win over Santos Laguna in July 2023.

Pumas form (all competitions):

Orlando City form (all competitions):

Team News

There are no injuries to report on the Pumas side.

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas collecting a clean sheet in his debut match for the club on Saturday, Alvaro Anyiver Angulo is eligible to play in this one despite his red card against Queretaro, while former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey continues to seek his first appearance for the Mexicans.

Guillermo Martinez and Jorge Ruvalcaba found the back of the net for them in their previous contest, as Pumas scored on two of their three targeted efforts.

On the Orlando City side, a shoulder injury kept Duncan McGuire out of the lineup in their victory against the Columbus Crew last weekend (3-1), and Joran Gerbet was sidelined once again with a thigh strain.

Ramiro Enrique netted a brace in that match, with the other Lions goal coming courtesy of Martin Ojeda deep into second-half stoppage time.

Pumas possible starting lineup:

Navas; Bennevendo, Nathan, Duarte, Angulo; Monroy, Carrasquilla, Trigos, Ruvalcaba; Vite, Martinez

Orlando City possible starting lineup:

Gallese; Freeman, Schlegel, Jansson, Brekalo; Pasalic, Atuesta, Araujo, Santos; Muriel, Ojeda

We say: Pumas 1-2 Orlando City

Navas is a significant upgrade for Pumas between the sticks, but we believe the Lions’ momentum and continuity will win out against a side with many new faces in recent times.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.