Mexico City is ready for another clash between two of its local teams. Pumas will visit its biggest rival Club América at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes on Sunday for another edition of El Clásico Capitalino.
It's a rivalry that goes beyond the the white lines. These two fanbases are some of the largest, most passionate in the country. Both teams are located in the heart of Mexico City–hence the derby name –and it's a game that traditionally doesn't care where the teams sit in the standings. All bets are off when these two rivals meet.
Pumas has had a rollercoaster of a start to Apertura 2024. It got 10 points in its first four matches, but lost three straight games after the break for this summer's Leagues Cup. Now, Gustavo Lema's team is slowly getting back into form, two straight 1–0 wins moving up to fifth place in Liga MX.
América has been just as, if not more, unpredictable this season. The back-to-back Liga MX champion hasn't found consistent form. Las Águilas have four wins, four losses and one draw through nine games. It's shown flashes of the dominance its displayed over the past year, but unlike the previous two seasons, it's been unable to maintain that level consistently.
For Pumas, this is a golden opportunity to strengthen its position in the direct playoff spots while simultaneously dealing its biggest rivals a big blow. América looks to win its third game out of four, continuing its surge up the standings.
