Chivas enter Friday’s Liga MX Apertura 2026 meeting with Puebla as the favourite, but Gabriel Milito’s side still have something to prove after a start that has not matched expectations. The match at Estadio Cuauhtémoc on July 31 is a chance for the Rebaño Sagrado to steady themselves, while Puebla will look to take confidence from a recent head-to-head edge.
There is also a clear viewing angle for Fans in the United States, with the game available through TUDN and Vix Premium. Kickoff is listed for 19:00 horas and 21:00 horas, giving supporters a straightforward way to follow one of jornada 3’s more interesting fixtures.
Chivas still carry the weight of expectation
On paper, Chivas should be the stronger side. The article’s framing points to Chivas as the favourite, and Transfermarkt lists them as the most valuable squad in the league. That kind of status naturally brings pressure, especially when a team has not started the tournament as expected.
Milito’s job is not just to collect points, but to make sure Chivas look like a side with control and authority. A club of this size can rarely afford to look uncertain for long, even in the early weeks of a campaign.
Puebla know they can make this uncomfortable
Puebla will take belief from the most recent meeting between these sides in Apertura 2024, when they beat Guadalajara 1-0 thanks to a goal from Emiliano Gómez. That result showed that Chivas can be punished if they are not sharp enough, and it gives La Franja a reference point before this latest meeting.
The recent form lines are mixed. In Apertura 2026, Chivas lost their first match to Toluca before beating FC Juárez in their second, while Puebla opened with a win over FC Juárez before losing to Cruz Azul. Those results do not settle anything on their own, but they do show that neither side arrives with a flawless run behind them.
What this match can tell us
This is a league game with a clear competitive edge. Chivas have the stronger squad on paper and the bigger expectation on their shoulders, but Puebla already know they can frustrate them and take a result if the game becomes messy.
If Chivas win, it will be an important sign that Milito’s team are beginning to move in the right direction. If Puebla can repeat the kind of discipline that carried them to that 1-0 win in Apertura 2024, then this could become one of Jornada 3’s more revealing fixtures.
