GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala -- A Tuesday night showdown between Monterrey and Municipal will go a long way towards determining which of those sides advances to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals from Group 7.

Through four match days in the group, the Rojos and Rayados are deadlocked in first place, with Panamanian side Chorrillo having been eliminated.Municipal, however, has played three matches to Monterrey's two, meaning this marks the final chance for the Guatemalans to stake their claim to that quarterfinal place.

To do that, Municipal will need to do nothing less than go into the home stadium of the two-time defending tournament champion in Mexico and pull out a victory -- a feat that Municipal coach Javier Delgado termed as tough, but not impossible.

"We're in for a titanic job," the coach said before travelling to Mexico."It's something many people will say is impossible, but as I've said before, it is possible.

"I know we can do it and we're going to put in every last bit of effort.It's our last game in the group phase and we're going to try to make history, because that's what it would be, historic."

A victory would be all the more historic, as Delgado labels it, because of what a win over the defending regional champion would entail for the proud Guatemalan club.  The Reds won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1974, but have not returned to such heights on the international stage since.

The Guatemalans know that the challenge in Monterrey will be far from easy, since even winning might not be enough for Municipal to advance.  After Monterrey snatched a 1-0 win last month over the Rojos in Guatemala, the visitors will need to win by two goals or more to assure the group outright.  Do that, and -- thanks to the tournament's head-to-head tie breaking criteria -- Municipal can assure itself of a coveted spot in the quarters at Monterrey's expense.

"We know it's tough," said goalkeeper Jaime Penedo."But when things are hard that's when you have to work harder.

"When you have a team that for the roster or the amount of money invested, or the league they play in, is superior, the only way to even things up is hard work, and when the match arrives maybe have a little luck. But luck is earned through hard work."

Aside from its hard work towards the goal of advancing in the CCL, Municipal's players and coaching staff are also taking heart from the close result last August 29, when the Rayados visited Guatemala City.  In that match, the host controlled the run of play, but couldn't put the ball in the net.

Instead, Monterrey's veteran striker Humberto Suazo scored the game's only goal -- the 12th CCL goal of his career -- in the late going to secure all three points for the visitors.  But after matching the regional champs so closely for 90 minutes, attacker Marvin Avila says the Rojos think their luck could easily change in Mexico.

"Here at home against Monterrey we had plenty of chances to score," said the winger."We didn't take advantage, and when they had a chance they scored.

"We're going there as the big club that we are, like them, but we're going to Monterrey to figure out a way to get three points."

Aside from the scenario that would put Municipal through, a Monterrey win or draw would seal the group and a quarterfinal berth for the two-time defending CONCACAF champion.  A 1-0 win for the visitors would leave things in Group 7 still to be settled in October, when Monterrey visits already eliminated Chorrillo to close out the group.