High-flying attacks collide as FC Cincinnati face Monterrey

MIAMI, Florida – Two teams with high-flying attacks will collide in the first leg of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 on Thursday night as FC Cincinnati host Liga MX giants Monterrey at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

FC Cincinnati enter the series fresh off a comprehensive 6-0 aggregate victory against Jamaican club Cavalier in Round One.

The Ohio-based side led all teams in shots in Round One with 41 and passing accuracy, having completed 88 percent of their passes. Only Thursday’s opponent, Monterrey, had more passes (1,368) than FC Cincinnati (1,254) in the first phase of the tournament.

FC Cincinnati are making their Champions Cup debut and will take on Monterrey for the first time, however they are familiar with Liga MX opposition, having defeated Chivas 3-1 in last summer’s Leagues Cup.

2023 MLS MVP Luciano Acosta will be pulling the strings in the FC Cincinnati attack, but one name to watch is Bret Halsey, who had a goal and provided a trio of assists versus Cavalier. Alvas Powell and Aaron Boupendza were also players who got their names on the scoresheet in the previous round.

Monterrey bagged seven goals in their 7-1 aggregate Round One series win over Comunicaciones of Guatemala.

The five-time Concacaf champions had the look of a team with designs on a sixth crown and will target a good result in Cincinnati. One of their key players is a familiar face to FC Cincinnati fans, Brandon Vazquez, who spent four seasons in Cincinnati prior to joining Monterrey this season.

Vazquez had a goal against Comunicaciones, as did German Berterame and Jesus Corona. Berterame also chipped in with an assist, while Corona completed 91 of 100 passes over the two legs against the Guatemalans.

Monterrey can also look to their recent history for confidence. They are 11W-2D-0L in their last 13 Champions Cup matches, including six wins in a row, and have won their last two away matches in Champions Cup play by a 4-1 scoreline.