At GOAL we offer a year-in-review of the university team, highlighting the key moments and turning points that defined the season.
2022 was a year the Cougars would rather forget. Enthusiasm kicked off the year with solid early results, but the team’s performance faded over time, hitting a low in the Apertura tournament. The aim for 2023 is clear: leave the setbacks behind and reclaim a leading position in the MX competition.
Here is a concise summary of the Auriazules’ season:
Saprissa
Return to international competition
Building on a runner-up finish in the Guardianes 2020, the Cougars returned to international play by winning the CONCACAF Champions League in 2022. Throughout the tournament they overcame several opponents, reaching the final against Saprissa, New England Revolution, and Blue Cross.
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Final setback against Seattle
In the Concacaf Champions League final the players faced a 3-0 defeat on home soil to Seattle Sounders, after a hard-fought first leg at the Olímpico Universitario. The loss marked the end of a long run of dominance by Mexican clubs in the tournament, a streak that dated back to 2006.
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Resistencia in Clausura
Shortly after the tough Champions League result, the Auriazules met their MX rival in the Clausura. A 4-1 defeat at Akron Stadium knocked them out of the competition, underscoring the need for structural improvements heading into the rest of the season.
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Shifts in personnel: Talavera and Mozo depart
As part of an internal restructuring, the second semester saw notable departures. Alfredo Talavera and Alan Mozo stood out as major names leaving the team. Talavera joined Bravos de Juárez as a free agent, while Mozo moved to Guadalajara.
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Signing Dani Alves
In the Opening 2022 window, the Cougars added several players, including Gustavus Del Prete and Edward Salvio. Yet the spotlight fell on Daniel Alves, the Brazilian veteran who left Barcelona months earlier and agreed to experience Mexican football with the team.
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ADR Barcelona exhibition
UNAM was invited to participate in a friendly against Barcelona at Camp Nou, a match that also honored legends. The ambition to challenge top European competition quickly confronted reality, as a deficit in the early stages led to a 6-0 defeat against the famous club.
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Stumble at the start of 2022
The season opened with a rough spell as reinforcements arrived. The team managed only two wins in the early fixtures and failed to reach the rematch rounds, signaling a rough road ahead.
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Results against the top clubs
Open scenes of struggles against the best teams in MX revealed a pattern: a 3-0 loss to Pedregal, 3-1 to America, 3-1 to Chivas, and a 2-1 defeat to Blue Cross. These outcomes underscored the urgency for a strategic overhaul to compete with the conference’s heavyweight squads.
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Ending the tenure: Lillini departs
After two seasons in charge, Andres Lillini left the Blue and Gold, ceding leadership to new plans. The Argentine had taken over in mid-2020 and had guided the Universitarios to two finals, yet silverware remained elusive.
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Rafa Puente takes the helm
With negotiations unsettled with notable coaches, the Cougars appointed Rafael Puente as head coach. His arrival sparked mixed reactions among fans, following his prior results with Querétaro and León, yet the club pressed on with renewal as a central pillar of their strategy.