The in-form CF Monterrey will be looking to carry over their good domestic form onto the continental stage at this year’s Leagues Cup, which kicks off on July 21. The Rayados will get the ball rolling on their campaign on July 26 when they face Real Salt Lake at America First Field in Utah.
This past month, Monterrey celebrated their 78th anniversary, making them the oldest club in the West 2 group, where they’ll also be facing Seattle Sounders FC. Their match-up against the Rave Green is scheduled for July 30, and will be the final match-up of the group.
Their two MLS rivals were founded in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Monterrey, meanwhile, have had a long history of success, which includes 13 titles, including five domestic league wins.
How are CF Monterrey looking heading into Leagues Cup 2023?
CF Monterrey topped the league table in the Clausura 2023 campaign in last year’s LIGA MX season, but faltered in the playoffs as they lost to Club Tigres, the team who would eventually lift the title. As they look to carry their form into the current season, the Rayados are unbeaten in their first two Apertura 2023 matches so far. This included a 1-1 draw against Atletico San Luis on the opening day, before a slender 1-0 victory over Atlas FC.
The side from Nuevo Leon are coached by the Argentine Fernando Ortiz, who arrived back in May of this year after putting pen to paper on a two-year deal. The 45-year-old will be looking to bring silverware back to the club after two barren seasons, and this summer’s Leagues Cup could be the perfect opportunity to get off the mark. Here’s a look at two of the key players he’ll be counting on:
Rogelio Funes Mori, FC Monterrey’s sharpshooter
Rogelio Funes Mori started out at River Plate in his native Argentina. It didn’t take long before he attracted interest from European sides, and in 2013 he joined Benfica in Portugal - although he struggled to break into the first team and was soon loaned out to Turkey. He then moved back across the pond in 2015 to join CF Monterrey, and has been a resounding success since - he is now the club’s all-time top scorer.
The forward has LIGA MX, Copa MX, and CONCACAF Champions League titles to his name after eight years with the team. He obtained Mexican citizenship in 2021 and was part of El Tri’s squad for last year’s World Cup campaign. He has already found the net after two games played this season.
Victor Gúzman, Rayados’ newly-built wall
The 21-year-old central defender came through the ranks at the Club Tijuana academy, going all the way from the U13 team to the senior side. He was part of the Mexican side that won the CONCACAF U17 Championship, and that finished runners-up at the World Cup for that age group in the same year, in Brazil.
He made his first-team debut in 2020 and was named LIGA MX rookie of the year in 2021, even going on to make the league’s All-star team. He made the move to CF Monterrey ahead of the 2023 Clausura campaign, and was one of the key players as the team topped the regular season table. One of Mexican football’s brightest prospects.
