There’s something undeniably cinematic about the wide chasm between Club América and Puebla heading into their Liga MX showdown at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes this week. Picture, if you will, an underdog classic—the kind of story Hollywood loves, where you have the unstoppable villain, the scrappy underdog with nothing to lose, and an entire city watching to see if the fairy tale will play out or if reality will slap us all upside the head. If you’ve ever watched “Rocky” and thought, “This is cool, but I’d rather see Rocky get knocked out in the first round and then go have a burrito with Creed,” you’re getting the vibe here.

Let’s be real: América is on a heater. They’re the Tony Stark of Mexican soccer right now—rich, confident, and you just know there’s a snarky quip coming every time they score. Eight wins, three draws, one loss, and a goal difference of +15 after twelve games. That’s the kind of form that makes you think they’re running a cheat code. They’re averaging over two goals per game, and their home record is the kind of thing you brag about on LinkedIn. They’re not just winning; they’re winning by the modern soccer equivalent of a touchdown, with guys like Rodrigo Aguirre and Alejandro Zendejas turning into human highlight reels every time they step on the pitch. Zendejas, in particular, is having one of those seasons where every time the ball leaves his boot, you expect the net to bulge. He’s got that “I’ll do it myself” energy—call it the Denzel-in-“Man on Fire” effect.

Puebla, meanwhile, is in full “The Revenant” mode—battered, bruised, and just trying to survive. One win, two draws, and nine losses. Minus-nineteen goal difference. They’re the team your fantasy league buddies take turns pitying, the squad that’s always one bad bounce away from a morale-crushing loss. But, let’s be honest, doesn’t every movie need that scrappy group of misfits? Puebla’s not here to win a beauty contest; they’re here to fight for their Liga MX lives, because with the relegation ax hanging over their heads, every point matters more than a season finale cliffhanger. They’ll roll into Mexico City with all the swagger of a substitute teacher on the first day of school, but sometimes—just sometimes—guys like Ricardo Marín and Emiliano Gómez find a way to sneak one past the favorite, and suddenly, you’re watching “Friday Night Lights” and rooting for the underdog to find their one shining moment.

Let’s talk tactics. América’s going to pour forward like a Marvel hero in the third act—relentless, creative, and maybe a little bit cocky. Their midfield is humming, and the defense is tighter than a hipster’s skinny jeans. The only real question is whether they’ll get caught looking ahead to bigger games, or if they’ll treat this like the proverbial “trap game” every NFL fan dreads. Puebla, on the other hand, is going to park the bus, set up the defensive equivalent of a “Home Alone” booby trap, and hope for a lucky break on the counter. Their best hope is to turn this into a soccer version of “The Alamo”—just hold out long enough for something crazy to happen. If they can keep América scoreless for the first 30 minutes, the pressure will start to build, and suddenly, a draw starts to feel like a win.

Let’s not kid ourselves—history and current form say this is América’s game to lose. The oddsmakers give Puebla about an 8.75% chance of winning, which is roughly the same as your odds of winning the lottery or your Uber driver actually knowing the way to your apartment. But if football were predictable, we wouldn’t watch, right? That’s why we’re all here, waiting for the moment when the underdog pulls off the impossible. Remember when Leicester City won the Premier League? That’s the stuff sports dreams are made of—but let’s be honest, Puebla isn’t Leicester. They’re more like the understudy in a high school play who nails their one line and becomes a legend.

So here’s the big question: Will América do what’s expected and roll to an easy win, or will Puebla find their inner “Rudy” and shock the world? The smart money says América cruises, maybe even by two or three goals—the over/under on total goals is 2.5, and América’s high-flying attack makes the over look tempting. But don’t be shocked if Puebla scrapes and claws their way to a moral victory, or even a sneaky late goal that sends their fans into a frenzy. That’s the beauty of sports—you never know when the script will flip, and the underdog will get their moment in the spotlight.

So grab your popcorn, settle in, and enjoy the show. Because whether it’s a coronation for América or a Cinderella story for Puebla, Liga MX never disappoints. And remember—this is why we watch. For the drama, the unpredictability, and the chance to witness something unforgettable. Now, who’s ready for kickoff?