Atletico Pantoja out to spoil another Monterrey title run

MIAMI, Florida – Atletico Pantoja of the Dominican Republic will be out to spoil another Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League title run for Liga MX giants Monterrey beginning with Thursday’s 2021 Round of 16 first leg at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The Caribbean side are making just their second appearance in the SCCL and first since 2019 when they were eliminated in the Round of 16 by the New York Red Bulls.

Atletico Pantoja punched their ticket to the 2021 SCCL by virtue of being the best-ranked team during the 2020 Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship group stage and now a team full of rising stars within the Dominican Republic National Team, including FW Ronaldo Vasquez, will look to make a name for themselves against four-time SCCL winners Monterrey.

Only once in their history have Rayados failed to win the SCCL when they have qualified for the tournament (2016-17).

With that in mind, the expectations for another deep run and trophy-lifting moment will be high among the Monterrey faithful.

Many of the same players who won the 2019 SCCL with the Mexican are still in the mix, including attackers Dorlan Pabon, Aviles Hurtado and the scorching hot Rogelio Funes Mori, who has nine goals thus far in the Liga MX Clausura.

History will also be on Monterrey’s side as the 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2019 champions own a 2W-0D-0L record against Caribbean opposition.