MIAMI-. He Inter Miami of the Argentine star Lionel Messi and the Monterrey of the Spanish midfielder Sergio Canales They will face their powerful rosters in midweek, in one of the first legs of the quarterfinals of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup.
This instance of the tournament brings together four Mexican teams, three Americans and a representative from Costa Rica.
The clash between Inter and Monterrey in Miami will bring two of the largest teams in Concacaf face to face.
According to the Transfermarkt portal, Inter Miami has the most valuable payroll in the MLS estimated at about $91 million.
At 36 years old, Messi alone costs a third of the squad (32.3 million), while Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez is the fifth on the roster (4.3 million).
For its part, the ‘Rayados’ of Monterrey without the highest valued team in the MX League: 102.1 million dollars and with a value calculated at $11.8 million, former Real Madrid player Sergio Canales It is the most precious piece of the ‘Rayados’.
The tie between Inter Miami and Monterrey will get underway on Wednesday at Chase Stadium, in Fort Lauderdale, at 8:00 p.m. local time (00:00 GMT on Thursday).
The big unknown heading into the first chapter of this tie is whether Messi will play since he has missed Inter Miami’s three most recent games due to a right leg injury.
“The game (against Monterrey) is important, but we have to think about the entire year,” said Argentine Gerardo Martino, coach of Inter Miami, and stressed that if there is “risk” for Messi’s recovery, “he will not play.” ”.
It will be until Tuesday when ‘Tata’ Martino decides if Messi will line up against Monterrey.
Mexicans on all fronts
In the four quarterfinal ties there is a Mexican team. In addition to Monterrey, Tigres, América and Pachuca will also fight for a place in the semifinals. All four will be visitors in the first legs.
The quarterfinals will get underway on Tuesday when the Tigers, hoping to count on French forward André-Pierre Gignac, visit the Columbus Crew of the United States at Lower.com Stadium in Columbus at 7:00 p.m. local (23H00 GMT).
Also on Tuesday, starting at 9:00 p.m. local time (03:00 GMT on Wednesday), América, the leader of Mexican soccer, will face the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
The fourth round will start on Wednesday at the National Stadium in San José at 8:00 p.m. local time (02:00 GMT on Thursday); Costa Rica’s Herediano will host Pachuca.
The ‘Tuzos’ of Pachuca will visit Herediano with the need to shake off a streak of three consecutive defeats in the local league.
“We have a beautiful challenge in the Concachampions; We will go look for a good result,” said Uruguayan Guillermo Almada, coach of the Mexican team.
Source: AFP
