Leagues Cup is serving up a juicy main course for you on Saturday night in a mouthwatering clash of giants when eight-time Liga MX champions Club Tigres de la UANL meet reigning Leagues Cup champions and current MLS Supporters’ Shield leaders Inter Miami CF in front of potentially 40,000 fans at the Houston Texans’ NRG Stadium.
Both teams have already booked their tickets to the knockout stages with opening victories over Club Puebla but seeding is still at stake in group East 3, which in this case could involve avoiding the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners in the Round of 32 — something both teams are well aware of.
“In football we always want to win, no matter what the match is, or who the opponent is. Even if there is nothing at stake [besides] first position in the group, we still want to win,” said Miami midfielder Federico Redondo. “Also, because of the brackets, it’s not the same to come out first or second.”
Likewise, though the Herons will be without Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi in the match, teams will be looking to avoid them all the same as the tournament progresses. After all, the team from South Beach still boasts three fellow Barcelona legends across the lines with fullback Jordi Alba, midfielder Sergio Busquets, and striker Luis Suárez among a deeply talented roster.
Don’t be surprised if Saturday’s matchup turns out to be the 2024 Leagues Cup Final either, because the same can be said about Universitarios. Up top, Tigres is led by one of the greatest strikers in Liga MX history, 38-year-old Frenchman André-Pierre Gignac, at the spear of a deadly three-pronged attack alongside experienced Colombian Luis Quiñones and Mexican international Diego Lainez. Embodying their strength, the Mexican side is also formidable at the back through club stalwarts Guido Pizarro in central defense and Nahuel Guzmán between the sticks — one of a few talented shot-stoppers in Universitarios goalkeeper room.
As you would hope with two top-class adversaries, the pair enter their head-to-head battle in peak form with each at the top of their respective league tables. Tigres is unbeaten in their first five matches of the season while Miami has won seven of their last eight, but only one can win group East 3 on Saturday night in Houston, Texas.
