MONTERREY, Mexico – There will be no shortage of top talent on display in Thursday’s SCCL Final and one of the best head-to-head match-ups expected will pit Monterrey FW Rogelio Funes Mori versus Club America center back Bruno Valdez.
Valdez has played a key role in Club America reaching the Final, appearing in five of Las Aguilas’ six matches in the tournament, giving him a total of 14 career SCCL appearances.
The 29-year-old defender could provide the perfect antidote for the dangerous Funes Mori. Known for his jumping and heading abilities, Valdez can physically go toe-to-toe with the muscular Funes Mori, especially on aerial duels or 50-50 balls on the ground.
Valdez is extremely skilled when it comes to interventions, whether it is blocking a shot, deflecting a pass or using his strength to alter the trajectory of a shot or pass.
The Paraguayan is also a threat on the offensive end, with the capability to flight a cross-field pass onto the boot of a teammate, or even get forward to be on the end of a set piece.
But stopping a pure goalscorer like Funes Mori will be no easy feat. The Argentine-born striker already won an SCCL title in 2019 with Rayados and became Monterrey’s all-time leading scorer earlier this season.
Funes Mori is one of the smartest forwards in Liga MX, with an uncanny ability to find space and launch a quick shot amid a sea of defenders.
The way in which he uses his body can be a nightmare for the back line. With his back to goal, Funes Mori is adept at receiving a pass and making a quick turn and shot before a defender can even react.
That clever playmaking can also be seen on set pieces when he is able to get on the end of a corner kick or free kick. Then there is Funes Mori’s excellent passing acumen to find overlapping teammates, which can cause havoc in front of goal.
The versatile ways in which Funes Mori can do damage is sure to bring out the very best from Valdez’s defending, making for a must-watch battle in the SCCL Final.
