Rayados host Inter Miami in potential Messi return

MIAMI — CF Monterrey will look to defend a 2-1 lead on aggregate against visiting Inter Miami CF in the second leg of the quarterfinals in the Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.

Inter Miami took the lead in the first leg behind a goal from Tomas Aviles, before Maximiliano Meza and Jorge Rodriguez completed the comeback for Monterrey. The Mexican side has never lost a two-legged series after winning the away leg.

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Rayados extended their unbeaten streak in quarterfinal first leg matches to six wins in eight games. Meza and Rodriguez made history by marking the first time two Argentine players scored a goal for the club in a CCC match.

With its ninth consecutive victory, Monterrey holds the longest winning streak by a Mexican club in the history of the tournament. Monterrey remains undefeated for the 16th consecutive game in the competition (14W-2D-0L), marking the second-best streak in the tournament for the five-time champions.

Game Notes, Stats Monterrey v Inter Miami

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Brandon Vazquez is Monterrey’s leading scorer with three goals, with nine other players scoring at least once. Meza leads the team in assists with five. Sergio Canales was the player with the most shots, 7, in the victory against Inter Miami.

In the defeat to Monterrey, Inter Miami became the second MLS club to lose the first leg of the quarterfinals in its CCC debut season. It also became the ninth MLS club to suffer its first defeat in its first tournament in its third match.

Uruguayan star Luis Suarez co-leads the team with two goals and is the sole leader in assists with two.

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi was not present in the first leg against Monterrey due to injury but could feature in the second leg after returning to the field over the weekend in league play. Messi scored two goals and provided an assist in Miami’s Round of 16 series against Nashville SC.

The two teams will meet for only the second occasion. It will be the 111th encounter between Liga MX and MLS teams since the format change in 2008-09.