The first three spots in the Champions Cup quarterfinals will start to be decided beginning on Tuesday

MIAMI — The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continues on Tuesday with three second leg matches in the Round of 16.

Columbus Crew will seek a comeback on its home turf, looking to overturn a 3-nil deficit to fellow MLS club LAFC. Cruz Azul and Seattle Sounders FC have everything to play for after a scoreless first leg. Tigres UANL and FC Cincinnati will meet in the night's last match, looking to resolve a 1-1 draw in the opening encounter.

The winners on aggregate will advance to the quarterfinals. Away goals serve as the primary tiebreaker. If necessary, extra time and a penalty shootout will decide a winner.

Columbus Crew vs. LAFC

The Columbus Crew hosts Los Angeles FC at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio, USA. LAFC won the first leg 3-nil and will look to see out its lead into a spot in the quarterfinals.

The reigning Leagues Cup winners and 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup runners-up face an uphill battle, needing at least three goals to tie on aggregate and avoid giving up away goals. The Crew will look to Diego Rossi and Jacen Russell-Rowe, among others, to spark its offense.

LAFC is led offensively by Denis Bouanga, who scored twice in the opening match, and defensively by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who collected his second clean sheet. In the first leg, 21-year-old Nathan Ordaz made history by becoming the youngest U.S.-born player to score in the Champions Cup for the club.

No MLS club has ever overturned a 3-0 first leg away defeat in tournament history,

The winner of this series will play Inter Miami CF or Cavalier FC in the quarterfinals.

Cruz Azul vs. Seattle Sounders

Cruz Azul hosts Seattle Sounders FC at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico.

After a scoreless draw in the first leg in Seattle, Cruz Azul returns home with hopes of punching their ticket to the next round. La Máquina has advanced in all three two-leg series versus MLS opposition in the modern era of the competition. Ángel Sepúlveda, tied for the tournament lead with three goals, missed the first leg but can be a massive factor in Mexico City.

Seattle Sounders FC features a potent and experienced attack with U.S. national team forwards Jordan Morris, Paul Arriola, and Jesus Ferreira. The U.S. club will seek to be the first to score against Cruz Azul in the 2025 edition.

The winner will play either CD Guadalajara or Club América in the quarterfinals.

Second leg outlook: 

Seattle faces a tough challenge in Mexico, where they have never won a second-leg match (2D-3L), with four eliminations in five attempts. Cruz Azul, on the other hand, has won all eight of its previous home matches against U.S. clubs, advancing every time.

 Seattle Sounders winless in last seven matches against Liga MX clubs 

Seattle Sounders are on a seven-match winless streak against Liga MX teams in Mexico (3D-4L). When closing out a series as the away team in Mexico, Seattle has never won (2D-3L). Of those five series, they were eliminated four times (against Santos Laguna in the 2012 quarterfinals and 2013 semifinals, CF América in the 2016 quarterfinals, and Chivas in the 2018 quarterfinals), with their only qualification coming against Club León in the 2022 quarterfinals.

Cruz Azul will host a U.S. opponent for the ninth time in tournament history, having won all previous home encounters. In all five series against U.S. clubs, the Mexican side has always advanced (1970 vs. NY Greek American, 1971 vs. SC Elizabeth, 1980 vs. Brooklyn Italians, 1988 vs. Seattle Mitre Eagles, and 2014 vs. Kansas City).

Tigres UANL vs. FC Cincinnati 

Tigres UANL hosts FC Cincinnati at Estadio Universitario in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, México.

The sides drew 1-1 in the first leg in Cincinnati last Tuesday. Nicolás Ibáñez scored the lone goal for the Mexican side, who were backed with five saves by Nahuel Guzmán in an excellent performance.

Pavel Bucha found the back of the net for the U.S. side, co-leading the Golden Boot race with three goals. Newcomer Kévin Denkey has also played an integral role, providing the assist in the first leg and two goals in the campaign.

Since the start of the modern era in 2008, Tigres has avoided defeat in 20 of its 22 matches against MLS teams in the Champions Cup. The Liga MX club has been unbeaten in its last six home matches against MLS opposition, eliminated in the 2024 quarterfinals by Columbus Crew on penalties.

The winner of this series will advance to play either LA Galaxy or CS Herediano.

Second leg outlook: 

FC Cincinnati faces a crucial away challenge – Having drawn the first leg at home against Tigres UANL (1-1), FC Cincinnati will play its fourth away match in Concacaf Champions Cup history. The team has won twice on the road but suffered its only away defeat in Mexico against CF Monterrey in the 2024 Round of 16. The second leg in Mexico will be a major test as Tigres remains unbeaten in its last six home matches against MLS clubs.

Tigres UANL aims to capitalize at home – After drawing the first leg against FC Cincinnati, Tigres will host the second leg against an MLS club for the fifth time. Their record in this scenario stands at three qualifications and one elimination, with their only loss coming against Columbus Crew in the 2024 quarterfinals. Tigres has won just one of its last three home matches against MLS teams but remains undefeated in such encounters.