Atlas vs Puebla - Friendlies Clubs

The history between Atlas and Puebla lends this Friendlies Clubs fixture an extra layer of spice, and when the two walk out at the home ground on July 10, 2026, recent encounters will be on everyone's mind. Chelsea take on Serie A giants Juventus in Hong Kong this morning in the latest fixture on their pre-season tour of Asia.

Both camps will view the Friendlies Clubs meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. Atlas will be keen to seize the initiative and build some momentum on home soil. Puebla's away form is hard to read, but they will arrive with the belief that they can trouble their hosts. If he finds a way of those three players gelling and playing together - making one of them run in beyond - then Chelsea will have a very good season.

Stylistically, this is a compelling matchup. Atlas favour a patient, possession-based approach, whereas Puebla are at their most dangerous when allowed to hit quickly on the counter. They are sticking to the principles of possession and pressing that have taken them from the fourth tier.

Game-changers are scattered across both line-ups, and the contest may well be decided by which side's match-winners deliver on the day. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Priske's winner against Swansea came after a set-piece found Vicente and he squared the ball for the striker.

Predicting an outright winner is no easy task given how little separates the two sides on paper. A share of the spoils looks the most probable outcome, with neither side holding a decisive edge — a 1-1 draw feels like a fitting result. With positions in the Friendlies Clubs table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. Manchester City will begin another Premier League season with major uncertainty hanging over the club after league chief executive Richard Masters admitted the long-awaited verdict on their financial case has taken longer than expected.