A Decade Without Titles: The Contrast Between Pumas and Atlante
While Atlante spent years outside the top flight, Pumas failed to secure a single official trophy, marking one of the longest droughts in Liga MX.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: ProtoplasmaKid
During the 12 years that Atlante spent outside the top flight, Pumas failed to celebrate a single official championship. Between the Apertura 2014 and Clausura 2026, the university team went without a title, a drought that stands in stark contrast to other teams that found reasons to celebrate during the Potros de Hierro's absence from the top tier.
This lack of silverware places Universidad Nacional alongside Tijuana as the only teams in the current circuit that did not win any championship during that period. Neither the Liga MX, the Copa MX, nor international competitions appeared in the team's trophy case.
The drought at Pumas is particularly striking when compared to the achievements of other institutions. America, Tigres, Monterrey, Toluca, Pachuca, and Leon all secured Liga MX championships; some, like the Azulcremas or the Diablos Rojos, even became back-to-back champions. Others managed to break their own streaks: Queretaro and Puebla lifted the Copa MX, and Atlas broke a historic drought by winning back-to-back Liga MX titles in 2021 and 2022.
Now, both teams are desperate for points. With the tournament at the halfway mark, Pumas sits in 11th place with 13 points and only one win in their last five matches, while Atlante sits two points behind in the lower reaches of the table. Both clubs are looking for a victory to keep their Liguilla aspirations alive.