Columbus Crew head into Columbus Crew Vs Pumas with real momentum after taking six points from their first two Leagues Cup 2026 games, and Laurent Courtois' side have given themselves a strong platform to finish the first phase in control. They beat Atlas 3-1 in their debut and followed that with a 2-1 win over Pachuca, which has underlined their status as one of the strongest MLS teams against Liga MX opposition in the competition.
The closing match of the first phase arrives on 11 August, and it carries a different kind of pressure for Pumas UNAM. While Columbus Crew are looking to protect an unbeaten run against Mexican clubs, Pumas UNAM need a positive result to keep their tournament hopes alive.
How Columbus Crew have built their edge
The shape has been central to the start. Courtois has his team playing in a 3-4-2-1, and the system has clearly suited the balance of the side in this tournament. Columbus Crew have not just been winning; they have looked organised enough to handle the demands of facing teams from Liga MX.
The numbers from the opening two matches support that picture. Columbus Crew have scored 2.55 goals per game and allowed just 1.02, while their 449.58 passes per game shows a team comfortable taking control of matches. By comparison, the game is not being played at a frantic tempo for them; it is being managed.
There has also been a clear contribution from the squad around the structure. Mohamed Farsi has provided three assists, Dániel Gazdag and Taha Habroune have scored two goals apiece, Patrick Schulte has made 10 saves, and there have been 12 recoveries in the tournament context that show the side’s work rate without the ball.
Pumas UNAM need to respond
That is the backdrop for Pumas UNAM, who arrive needing something tangible from the match. Two defeats and no goals in the competition leave little margin for error, and that makes the game more than just a final group-phase fixture. For Pumas UNAM, it is a chance to stay alive.
Columbus Crew will not want to treat it as a simple formality. A perfect start against Atlas and Pachuca has created expectation, and now the question is whether they can carry that level into one more test against Liga MX opposition. If they do, it will reinforce the sense that Courtois has his team well set for the bigger stages ahead.
For Pumas UNAM, the challenge is clear enough: find a result, find a goal, and keep the campaign moving. For Columbus Crew, the task is to finish the first phase exactly as they started it — with control, discipline, and another statement performance.
