August and early September struggles long behind them, 2011 Mexican Clausura champion Pumas UNAM has sharpened its claws.

The Blue and Golds have won four straight games in all competition and are purring ahead of an important week that includes a Champions League match against Toronto FC (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET on Setanta Canada), before heading back home for the Clasico Capitalino against arch-rival Club America.

The importance of beating America in the Mexico City derby may outweigh the Toronto encounter for Pumas head coach Guillermo Vazquez.

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Following UNAM’s 2-1 victory over Tecos on Saturday in the Mexican Apertura, the Pumas coach said of the upcoming CCL Group C encounter, “now we go on a trip to Canada and seek to rest some players, and those on the bench to play.”

Vazquez initiated a youth policy early on in the Champions League that saw Pumas earn just one point from their first two games. However, the Mexicans turned up with the full squad in its last two CCL matches, beating Toronto (4-0) and Dallas (2-0) to go atop Group C. They are tied with Dallas on seven points, but hold a superior goal difference, while Toronto trails the pair by one.  

Pumas can afford to get a draw in CCL Match Five at BMO Field before hosting Tauro for the final game of the Champions League group stage in October, where a win at home would put them through to the quarterfinals.

But according to defender Efrain Velarde, who scored against the Reds in Mexico City, the cats are prowling for maximum points in Toronto.

“It’s always important to win because it gives (us) a lot of confidence,” Velarde said after the Tecos triumph. He admits that “it is impossible to stop thinking” about the upcoming match against America, but they must turn their attention to Toronto first.

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