Club Puebla vs. Minnesota United FC
Allianz Field | St Paul, Finnesota
07.23.2023 | Leagues Cup | Group Stage - Game #1
8 p.m. CT (AppleTV - MLS Season Pass, 1500 ESPN)
Hello, fellow waterfowl enthusiasts! Before the MLS regular season gives way to a month of Leagues Cup play, let’s take a minute to reflect on the Saturday that was at Allianz Field, in which the boys fought their butts off against LAFC. And, while nobody truly enjoys when things end in a draw, the 1-1 slugfest between the Loons and the reigning MLS champs was still an exciting bout between the two squads. For the Loons, it was an admirable performance that saw them push a more-than-formidable opponent to the brink. But, possibly an even more important takeaway was that the MNUFC defensive unit was able to continue to hold strong for the full 90+ minutes of the match. For a team that has, on occasion, conceded a last-minute, tie-breaking (or tie-making) goal, seeing the boys hold their own against an opponent of such high-caliber is quite encouraging for what lies ahead. It's the kind of progress that, if it continues to develop as steadily as it has, indicates the boys in Black and Blue may be able to make some noise in the Leagues Cup bracket, as well as the home stretch of the MLS regular season. Time will tell, but right now, it’s time to tell you all about our first opponent in game numero uno of the very first continental-inclusive tournament of its kind in North America.
Club Puebla, at a glance
We interrupt your usually scheduled “Run of Form” content to offer a bit more comprehensive overview of the club's recent results within Liga MX. First, for those unfamiliar with the seasonal format, Liga MX uses the Apertura / Clausura structure, splitting the traditional association season into an opening tournament (or Apertura) that runs from July to December and a closing tournament (or Clausura) running from January to May of the following calendar year. For the club affectionately known as “La Franja” (“The Striped Ones”), they’re currently only three games into the Apertura section of the 2023-24 season, which just isn’t a big enough sample size to fairly assess the club’s current level of competitiveness, as Puebla (0-2-1) currently sits in 17th out of a total of 18 Liga MX clubs. Looking back to the club’s results from the 2022-23 season, Puebla finished eighth in the Liga MX 2022 Apertura standings with a 4-10-3 record (W-L-D) and 22 points. The club would go on to defeat Guadalajara 1(5) – 1(4) in a penalty-kick shootout during the play-in game of the 2022 Apertura Playoffs and advance to the quarterfinals. Unfortunately, La Franja would end up losing 11-2 on aggregate in the quarterfinals to Club America. For the second part of their season, Puebla would finish in the 11th spot of the Liga MX 2023 Clausura standings with a 6-9-2 record (W-L-D) and 20 points, ultimately falling to 1-0 to eventual Clausura champions Tigres UANL in the first round of the playoffs.
Keys to the Match:
Guiller-No
In terms of where Puebla may find its scoring success during the Leagues Cup, Guillermo Martínez is, most likely, that guy. The 28-year old forward is Puebla’s main man up top, and he possesses the experience and the kind of shooter’s touch to keep Dayne St. Clair on his toes on Sunday night. Plus, Martínez has a penchant for going on the kinds of scoring streaks that are tough to keep in check once he gets going. If that’s the case on Sunday, DSC may have to be standing on his head to keep the Mexican from finding the net.
Mind Those Savvy Vets
In addition to marking a scorer like Martínez, the Loons will also need to be ready to deal with a few savvy vets that also can pose a problem on the attack, as well as the middle of the pitch. Although he no longer claims a spot in the starting XI, the boys cannot sleep on 32-year old forward Martín Barragá if happens to sub onto the pitch. He’s a more than capable scorer that led Puebla in goals two seasons ago, and has the potential to play spoiler if he finds himself in the mix. In the midfield, it’s 34-year old Argentine, Federico Mancuello, and 31-year old Pablo González that the boys will have to put the clamps on if they want to keep Puebla from creating those scoring opportunities.
Disarm The Young Guns
While Mancuello and González may have experience, Puebla has youth in the attacking third that could wreak their own havoc. The young guns in question being 20-year old midfielder Ángel Robles and Columbian forward Kevin Velasco. Robles has spent time with Mexico’s U20 and U23 National Team’s and appeared in every game of Puebla’s current Apertura. While Robles’s promise appears to be translating into more minutes, Kevin Velasco is a new face on the Puebla roster, joining the club in May on a one-year loan contract from Columbian side Deportivo Cali. Velasco, also known by his nickname “The Seal,” has proven a dangerous scorer in his young career and is looking to prove himself in his first international experience outside his native country. With so many fans across North America fixated on the Leagues Cup, the Black and Blue must make sure not to allow the talented forward a chance to throw his coming out party this Sunday at Allianz Field.
