Pumas debut under Solari with tactical shifts, raising questions

Esteban Solari's first match as Pumas coach saw him adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, a departure from his predecessor's tactics. Solari deployed Keylor Navas in goal, with Pablo Bennevendo and Álvaro Angulo at the full-back positions. Antonio Leone and Ángel Azuaje formed the central defensive pairing, supported by a double pivot of Pedro Vite and Santiago Trigos. Uriel Antuna and Robert Morales occupied the right and left wings, respectively, with Sebastián Córdova playing as an attacking midfielder behind lone striker Juninho Vieira.

The coach also made significant personnel changes, benching players like Rubén Duarte, Nathan Silva, and Adalberto Carrasquilla who were accustomed to starting. A notable tactical shift was the use of an attacking midfielder, a role filled by Sebastián Córdova. However, Córdova struggled to organize the attack and create scoring opportunities in his debut.

Robert Morales was surprisingly positioned on the left wing, a role that seemed to distance him from the penalty area where he is most effective. The double-pivot partnership of Vite and Trigos also did not yield the expected results, with Adalberto Carrasquilla potentially being a candidate to replace one of them. Substitutes Cristian Calderón, Víctor Arteaga, and Alan Medina also saw playing time, with Medina's return from injury offering potential competition for Antuna.

Despite the 4-2-3-1 formation and player evaluations, Solari's team left more questions than answers. The team's performance raised concerns given the approaching Apertura 2026 season, indicating that Solari needs more time to implement his playing style effectively.