What better way to end the Leagues Cup group stage than with a game that features two teams that will face each other with everything on the line. CF Monterrey and Pumas will play for a spot in the knockout stage at Q2 Stadium on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV in the last game of West 1.
Austin FC defeated both LIGA MX clubs and they already qualified for the next round of the tournament after securing first place in the group with five goals scored in two games. Both Rayados and UNAM lost to the MLS team after La Pandilla was on the wrong end of a 2-0 score and Los Auriazules came close to tying a 3-2 game but fell short.
A tight well played matchup is expected, as these two teams know each other very well and look to feed off their great start to the LIGA MX Clausura. Monterrey is in fourth place and has three wins and one loss, while Pumas remains undefeated with three wins and one draw after four games, to put themselves in second place of the table.
However, the story has been different for these teams in Leagues Cup, as they are looking for their first win, one that would put them one step closer to competing for the trophy. In last year’s edition of the tournament, both teams finished as leaders of their respective groups, but in 2024 it is inevitable that one of these Mexican clubs will finish last in West 1.
Rayados head coach Fernando Ortiz Will look to have an effective game plan to generate an explosive attack with Sergio Canales and Germán Berterame, two players that have only scored once in the current season and are a key part of the team's offense.
On the other hand, Pumas has Rogelio Funes Mori. This striker is one of the most talented players in the tournament and his history with Monterrey is one that cannot be overlooked. The 33-year-old player appeared in 328 games for La Pandilla, scoring a franchise record 160 goals and winning five trophies, including one Liga MX, during his time there from 2015 to 2023. A special ingredient for this game, as he now looks to help UNAM get to the next round.
In a win-or-go-home game, Monterrey and Pumas once again face off but now in the Leagues Cup, as they will battle for a trophy that they have desired since they started playing in this tournament, so expect a lot of fireworks between these LIGA MX historic clubs.
