Pumas UNAM vs. Seattle Sounders preview, TV channel, stream, lineups, betting odds for CONCACAF Champions League final

Kyle Bonn

Pumas UNAM vs. Seattle Sounders preview, TV channel, stream, lineups, betting odds for CONCACAF Champions League final  image

MLS gets yet another crack at winning the CONCACAF Champions League for the first time in league history as the Seattle Sounders bear the flag for the first leg of the final in Mexico City against Pumas UNAM.

Liga MX has owned the competition from its rebrand in 2008, winning every single edition of the competition. MLS clubs have reached the final five times since then, and all five teams have fallen short.

The Sounders, sitting 11th in the Western Conference table through the first seven matches of the young season, now hit the road for the two-legged final against Pumas, who sit 12th in the Liga MX table. A first-leg result would be gigantic for both sides, with each side looking to head to the Pacific Northwest next week with an early advantage.

Both teams beat a league rival in the semifinals to reach this point, with Pumas downing Cruz Azul and Seattle topping defending MLS Cup champions NYCFC. Both teams also come into this match on the heels of two straight league defeats, with Pumas falling to Chivas Guadalajara (3-1) and San Luis (2-0) back-to-back, while Seattle dropped matches against Inter Miami (1-0) and San Jose Earthquakes (4-3) in very different fashion.

This is the first match between the two sides in club history, and it comes in a continental final.

MORE: Full bracket, teams, results, & highlights from 2022 CONCACAF Champions League

How to watch Pumas UNAM vs. Seattle Sounders

  • Date: Wednesday, April 27
  • Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: FS1 (USA), TUDN (USA), OneSoccer (Canada)
  • Streaming: fuboTV, Fox Sports Go (USA), OneSoccer (Canada)

Wednesday's CONCACAF Champions League final between Pumas UNAM and the Seattle Sounders from the Estadio Olimpico Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico can be found on FS1 in the United States, with Spanish Language coverage on TUDN.

It can also be streamed on fuboTV and new users can take advantage of a free trial.

In Canada, the match can be found on OneSoccer, both on television and streaming.

MORE: Liga MX vs. MLS in CONCACAF Champions League history

Pumas UNAM vs. Seattle Sounders projected lineups

There are a number of injury concerns for the Mexican club as the 2022-23 Clausura nears a close. Striker Juan Dinenno has missed two straight games with a muscle injury and could be absent for this critical match as well, while midfielder Leonel Lopez is also a question mark with an ankle problem. Both are regular starters for the club when healthy, and their losses have been felt on the field in league play.

In addition, defender Arturo Ortiz was red-carded in the second leg of the semifinal and won't be available for this match. That's a huge loss, as Ortiz has been deployed at center back for every minute of every Pumas match across the entire 2021-22 Mexican league season save one Apertura game.

Those missing players represent three of the top seven minutes leaders this season for the club, leaving big shoes to fill. In Ortiz's place, 24-year-old Jose Galindo will likely step in alongside Nicolas Freire at the heart of defense.

Pumas projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Talavera (GK) — Velarde, Freire, Galindo, Mozo — Garcia, Higor — Saucedo, Alvarez, Diogo — Rogerio.

The Sounders are far more healthy than their opponents, with only backup goalkeeper Andrew Thomas and 21-year-old midfielder Dylan Teves likely to miss out.

Jordan MorrisRaul Ruidiaz, and Nicolas Lodeiro are all fit now after injury bouts to start the season, and it has proven vital to the attack, as the Sounders have scored at least two goals in three of the last five league matches and six of their 13 matches this season.

The issue for the Sounders is putting offense and defense together in the same match. Seattle has lost 1-0 three times this season, and has also fallen 4-3 and won 3-2. Most recently, the club blew a 3-1 lead to San Jose to lose 4-3, with Morris and Lodeiro scoring in vain.

Sounders projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Menjivar (GK) — D. Rodriguez, Maldonado, Figueroa, Quaye — E. Rodriguez, Mejia, Arriaga — Quioto, Moya, Elis.

Pumas UNAM vs. Seattle Sounders betting pick & prediction

Odds via DraftKings (USA) & Sports Interaction (Canada)

With the Seattle Sounders this year, it's been impossible to figure out whether their games will turn out as defensive struggles or wild shootouts. One thing is for certain, however — they'll almost certainly be close.

Every single one of Seattle's first seven matches of the MLS season has been decided by one goal, plus one draw. Add in 1-1 road draws with Club Leon and NYCFC in CONCACAF Champions League play, and this team is in every game.

So while the over/under is one to stay away from, a road battle with a defensive-minded Pumas is sure to finish close. A draw is great value in the 5/2 range, but hedging towards an inconsistent yet prolific Seattle team that plays well on the road is a good play.

Pick: Draw or Seattle Sounders (+105 on DraftKings)

Prediction: Pumas UNAM 1-1 Seattle Sounders

  DraftKings Sports
Interaction
Pumas Win -130 -137
Draw +255 +230
Seattle Win +370 +320
Both teams
to score Y / N
-125 / -105 -123 / -127
Over / Under
2.5 goals
-125 / +105 -106 / -130
Pumas -0.5 -130 -132
Seattle +1.5 +110 -101

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn Photo

Kyle Bonn, is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.