Pumas - Monterrey: Pumas Remain Unbeaten After Álvaro Angulo Brace
Pumas - Monterrey finished 2-0 at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Sunday, with Álvaro Angulo scoring both goals and Keylor Navas keeping a clean sheet. The result matters because it lengthens Pumas' positive run in the Clausura 2026 and affects both clubs' schedules and league positions as the season reaches midstage.
Pumas - Monterrey: how Álvaro Angulo struck twice
Álvaro Angulo produced a decisive performance, opening the scoring after a Rodrigo López cross found him and finishing without difficulty past Monterrey’s goalkeeper Luis Cárdenas. The second goal came from a rebound inside the area following a corner, with Angulo finding the net to make it 2-0 at the 25-minute mark. Angulo’s brace was noted as his first goals for Pumas and sealed the three points for the club.
Álvaro Angulo and the display in Ciudad Universitaria
The match unfolded at Ciudad Universitaria, where Pumas pressed from the opening whistle and sought to exploit lapses in Monterrey’s defensive zone. The home side’s early pressure and set-piece work translated directly into the scoreline. Celebrations by the auriazul fans filled the stadium after the second goal, reflecting the significance of the victory for the club’s project.
Keylor Navas and the interventions that preserved the clean sheet
Keylor Navas was instrumental in maintaining the shutout, making at least three important interventions to prevent Monterrey from closing the gap. Navas’ saves sustained the lead while Pumas absorbed periods of pressure and countered. The game narrative pointed to Monterrey’s collective defensive shortcomings, particularly on aerial balls, which contributed to Pumas converting a set-piece rebound into a goal.
Standings in the Clausura 2026 and differing records
Published accounts list Pumas in third place in the Clausura 2026 standings, but the numeric records vary across match coverage. One set of published figures places Pumas third with 12 points, recorded as three victories and three draws, maintaining an unbeaten status. Separate match summaries list Pumas as seven matches without defeat in the Clausura 2026 with four wins and three draws. Monterrey is listed in sixth place with 10 points and three wins. What makes this notable is the proximity in results: both clubs arrived at the fixture fresh from wins—Pumas after a victory over Puebla and Monterrey after defeating León—ensuring both teams confronted Sunday’s match with momentum.
Possible starting XI, player notes and named personnel
Pre-match lineup projections and player profiles highlighted several Pumas figures that influenced the game. Keylor Navas served as goalkeeper and captain in Ciudad Universitaria. Rodrigo López, a 24-year-old Mexican midfielder who joined Pumas in 2023 from Querétaro, supplied the cross for the first goal. Nathan Silva, a 28-year-old Brazilian center back signed from Atlético Mineiro in 2023, and Rubén Duarte, a 30-year-old Spanish defender who arrived in July 2024, were listed among defensive options. Álvaro Angulo, the Colombian left back signed in July 2025 after spells at Atlético Nacional and Independiente, delivered the two goals. Alan Medina, a 28-year-old right-sided attacker who arrived in 2025, and César Garza, a 20-year-old midfielder who arrived on loan in January 2026 after a stint at Dundee FC, were also cited as part of the squad makeup.
Players named in post-match rosters for Pumas included Keylor Navas, Rodrigo López, Nathan Silva, Ángel Azuaje, Álvaro Angulo, Pedro Vite, Adalberto Carrasquilla, Alan Medina, Jordan Carrillo, Robert Morales and Juninho. Monterrey’s listed names included Luis Cárdenas, Ricardo Chávez, Víctor Guzmán, Daniel Aceves, Luis Retes, Fidel Ambriz, Oliver Torres, Luca Orellano, Iker Fimbres and Uros Durdevic.
Historical context and upcoming fixtures at Estadio Caliente and Estadio BBVA
Monterrey has not lost to Pumas in 11 consecutive Liga MX matches across any venue, with Pumas’ last win over Monterrey recorded in the Clausura 2022 when Washington Corozo scored a brace; Corozo is now with Emelec in Ecuador. Looking ahead, Pumas will travel to the border to face Xolos on Friday the 27th at 21: 06 Central Mexico time at the Estadio Caliente. Monterrey returns to the Estadio BBVA to host Cruz Azul on Saturday the 28th of February at 19: 00 hours. Broadcast scheduling materials accompanying the match preview list kickoff times for the Pumas–Monterrey fixture as 18: 00 (United States), 17: 00 (Mexico) and 00: 00 (Spain). Those scheduling notes were presented as generated with artificial intelligence and supervised by editorial staff.
Cause and effect in the match was clear: Pumas’ early attacking intent and set-piece execution exposed Monterrey’s defensive vulnerabilities and produced two concrete scoring moments, while Navas’ interventions prevented any Monterrey response and preserved the clean sheet that secured the victory and extended Pumas’ unbeaten trajectory under coach Efraín Juárez.
