Seattle Sounders — Puebla : Match Preview and Prediction for August 21,2025

Seattle Sounders: Tournament Favorites

The American club enters this quarter-final clash as the undeniable favorite to lift the entire tournament trophy. Seattle stands out as the sole team from both MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX to have secured victories in all three of their Leagues Cup group stage matches. The team demonstrated formidable attacking prowess, netting an impressive 11 goals, highlighted by their historic 7-0 demolition of Cruz Azul.

Strategic Prioritization

Their recent 0-1 defeat in MLS against Minnesota should not be misinterpreted. Brian Schmetzer’s coaching staff strategically opted to rest several key players specifically in anticipation of this pivotal fixture against Puebla. This calculated move clearly indicates the team’s primary focus: the Leagues Cup currently holds top priority.

Lumen Field: A Fortress

A crucial element is their home ground. Lumen Field is a veritable fortress, where the Sounders have suffered only one loss in 12 MLS matches this season, simultaneously scoring an impressive 27 goals. Schmetzer’s squad has a proven track record of dominating opponents on their home turf from the opening whistle, a fact underscored by their statistics: in their commanding 4-0 victory over Los Angeles Galaxy, they were already leading 2-0 by halftime, and against Santos Laguna (2-1), Seattle also went into the break with a lead.

Puebla: Deep in Crisis

The Mexican club approaches this fixture engulfed in a profound crisis. Just recently, head coach Pablo Guede departed the team following a string of dismal results in their national championship. Interim coach Martín Bravo will now be at the helm, adding further disarray to an already fragile tactical structure.

Recent Form and Defensive Woes

Puebla’s Leagues Cup performance, which saw them secure two victories, appears to be an anomaly when contrasted with their catastrophic standing in Liga MX. Their last two league matches serve as a stark indicator of the team’s true level: a humiliating 0-7 defeat to Tigres and a spiritless 0-2 loss against Atlético San Luis. The team’s defense is visibly crumbling at the seams.

Troublesome Starts

Particularly revealing is how Puebla typically commences their matches. Against Tigres, they were already trailing 0-2 by halftime. In their game against Atlético San Luis, the score was 0-1 at the half-time whistle. Even within the Leagues Cup, against Columbus Crew, the Mexican side had a disastrous start, finding themselves 1-3 down after the first half.