Pumas UNAM and Querétaro played out a 0:0 draw in the fourth round of the Liga MX Apertura at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario on Saturday. The result leaves both sides with a point from their opening four matches, though the context differs considerably. Pumas sit twelfth with eight points after six games, while Querétaro occupy sixth with ten from the same number of outings.
The opening exchanges were tight, and it was the away side that broke the deadlock of sorts on the wrong side of the ledger. Paulo Victor picked up a yellow card in the second minute, a caution that perhaps set the tone for a match where discipline mattered as much as creation. To be fair, neither team could find a rhythm that threatened to open the scoring.
The second half brought a series of substitutions as both managers looked for something different. A. Alcala and Paulo Victor were among the first to go off around the hour mark, followed by a pair from Querétaro at 70 minutes when P. Vite and Juninho entered the fray. The game tightened up as the whistle approached, with Nathan Silva and Jean Unjanque both receiving yellow cards in the second half.
The statistics tell a story of dominance without reward for the hosts. Pumas held 66 per cent possession and launched 110 attacks, yet their expected goals figure sat at just 0.66. Querétaro, with 34 per cent of the ball, registered 0.67 expected goals and created two big chances compared to none for their opponents. Shots accuracy favoured the visitors at 38 per cent against 27 per cent, though neither keeper faced a testing afternoon.
What this means for the table is that neither side has moved significantly from their recent form. Pumas have taken six points from their last four matches, losing twice and drawing twice, while Querétaro have been on a more inconsistent run with three wins, one draw and two defeats. By then, both managers will be looking for something more decisive next time out.