MIAMI, Florida – The 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off on Tuesday with Comunicaciones of Guatemala hosting Mexican heavyweights Monterrey in the first leg of Round One at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
These two teams have met before in Champions Cup play back in the group stage of the 2011-12 edition during which Comunicaciones collected a 1-0 win at home, while Monterrey held serve in Mexico, 3-1.
Monterrey would go on to win the title that season and overall have five crowns to their name in just 11 previous appearances. The Rayados are back in the Champions Cup for the first time since their last conquest in 2021 and boast another enormously impressive squad.
MF Maximiliano Meza was a Champions Cup winner with Monterrey in 2019 and 2021 and enjoyed a tremendous performance in the latter, scoring four goals in four games.
Left back Jesus Gallardo was also a Champions Cup winner in 2019 and 2021 with Monterrey, totaling 14 games and three goals, and brings punch at both ends of the field.
Comunicaciones are always a formidable foe in Champions Cup play, especially in recent editions.
Past champs Monterrey, Comunicaciones set for reunion
Two years ago in 2022, the Cremas eliminated the Colorado Rapids in the Round of 16 before falling to New York City FC in the quarterfinals, while in the 2020 Round of 16, seven-time champions Club America needed a penalty shootout to eliminate the Guatemalans.
Comunicaciones are in their 28th Champions Cup tournament and have a plethora of weapons going forward. Jose Corena had three goals in the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup, while Antonio Lopez contributed four assists along with a goal.
Juan Anangono, the winner of the 2021 Concacaf League Golden Boot, is another player who can strike at any moment.
Comunicaciones FC (GUA) vs CF Monterrey (MEX)
REF: SELVIN BROWN (Honduras)
AR1: ENMANUEL AGUIRRE (Nicaragua)
AR2: GERSON ORELLANA (Honduras)
4TH: ISMAEL CORNEJO (El Salvador)
VAR: ALLEN CHAPMAN (USA)
VAR1: TRISTLEY BASSUE (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
