Puebla - América: Jornada 7 Preview, Possible Lineups and Espigares' Warning

The puebla - américa meeting in Jornada 7 of the Clausura 2026 arrives with both sides under pressure to climb the standings: América sits tenth with eight points after a difficult start, while Puebla is thirteenth with five. The match at Estadio Cuauhtémoc will test Puebla's home form and América's capacity to respond following a recent loss in the Clásico Nacional.

Puebla - América: posibles alineaciones, Jornada 7

Coaches have named starting lists for the fixture in Jornada 7. These lineups set the tactical baseline for a match framed by table urgency and recent head-to-head history.

• Puebla: Ricardo Gutiérrez; Luis Rey; Juan Vargas; Ulises Torres; Eduardo Navarro; Iker Moreno; Edgar Guerra; Carlos Baltazar; Kevin Velasco; Emiliano Gómez; Esteban Lozano.
• América: Luis Malagón; Israel Reyes; Aaron Mejía; Cristian Borja; Miguel Vázquez; Isaías Violante; Rodrigo Dourado; Raphael Veiga; Erick Sánchez; Brian Rodríguez; Henry Martín.

Venue: Estadio Cuauhtémoc. Kickoff times listed for the match are 21: 06 CDMX / 22: 06 ET.

Standings, recent form and Espigares' assessment

With the Clausura 2026 approaching midseason, points are increasingly decisive for reaching the top eight and the Liguilla. América occupies tenth place with eight points after a difficult start to the season and will visit Puebla seeking a victory after a 1-0 defeat in the Clásico Nacional at Akron. Puebla sits thirteenth with five points, the result of one victory, two draws and three defeats, and has only taken advantage of home conditions once so far (in Jornada 2).

The recent head-to-head profile between the clubs favors América: their last meeting at the Cuauhtémoc was in Jornada 6 of the Clausura 2025, a match that ended 1-2 for the visiting side, and América holds four wins in the last five encounters versus Puebla, with Puebla registering one victory in that span.

Albert Espigares, Puebla's coach, framed the fixture as a difficult test. He said he does not take América's temporary struggles as a sign of weakness, believes the team can react quickly, and emphasized respect for the opponent's quality and coaching leadership. Espigares indicated he expects a challenging match and that his side must impose its strategy at home.

Recent updates indicate the match will serve as a pivotal moment for both clubs: puebla - américa is not only a contest of eleven versus eleven but a direct confrontation with implications for the race to the Liguilla. The lineups, venue and standings set the immediate storyline; tactical adjustments and execution on matchday will decide which team moves closer to its short-term objectives.

Notes: the match is part of Jornada 7 of the Liga MX Clausura 2026. Team selections and kickoff times are those listed for the fixture; schedule and personnel are subject to change prior to kickoff.