Sergio Canales showed his class scoring a goal in his debut as a starter in Leagues Cup 2023 and sealing a 1-0 against Club Tigres in the Clásico Regio. Thanks to that late game-winning goal, CF Monterrey advanced to the quarterfinals, where the Spainard will have another opportunity to showcase why he’s the second most valuable player in LIGA MX.
Canales joined Rayados in July to help boost their offense and they will need it heading into this round against one of the best performing teams in the tournament: the Los Angeles Football Club. LAFC comes into the match having beaten FC Juaréz 7-1 and Real Salt Lake 4-0. The matchup should provide plenty of goals.
But CF Monterrey is no pushover. Rayados came into the tournament unbeaten in the 2023 Apertura and second in the league, two points behind the league leader Chivas de Guadalajara. This after finishing at the top of the table in the 2023 Clausura.
The club continued its unbeaten for through Leagues Cup 2023 They began the tournament with a 3-0 win over Real Salt Lake and a 4-3 win over Seattle Sounders in the group stage. They followed that up with a pair of 1-0 wins over Portland Timbers and Club Tirgres in the knockout stage.
The run hasn’t been all positive. The club lost it’s leading scorer, Germán Berterame, who suffered a fracture in his left foot. With Berterame out of the tournament, Canales has the opportunity to step up to leads the offense.
The 32-year-old Spaniard made his professional debut in July 2008 at Racing Santander and later played for Real Madrid, Valencia, Real Sociedad and Real Betis. The transfer to Monterrey is the first in his career outside of Spain and it seems that he has already adapted to his new environment.
He’s also earned 11 caps with the Spain National Team, where he scored a goal and won the last edition of the UEFA Nations League. Do you think Canales is ready to be CF Monterre’s go to scorer?
