Who is their player to watch?
It has to be their guiding light and No. 10 in the midfield, Sergio Canales.
The 33-year-old Spaniard, who has stepped up with four goals and four assists in just his last six appearances, has been a joy to watch. His vision remains world-class and it’s no surprise as to why the leader is occasionally selected as team captain.
If Monterrey succeed, it’ll likely be due to the player who loves to pull the strings in the starting XI — and occasionally score as well.
What a title would mean for the club
A championship would be a worthy prize for an organization that has tried to shift the epicenter of Mexican soccer to the north through an immense amount of investment.
Through they have the best and most modern stadium in Liga MX, back-to-back championships for their women’s team, some of the league’s most celebrated stars, three runs as the cumulative year-long points leaders since 2015, they also just have one title in the last decade.
A sixth championship would not only help steal the spotlight away from the traditional big four from Mexico City and Guadalajara (Club America, Chivas, Cruz Azul, Pumas), but would also give a much-needed boost as they hope to make some noise at the 2025 Club World Cup.
Predicted scoreline
Defense wins championships, and after a hard fought 1-1 draw at home in the first leg, Club America will lock things down with a narrow 1-0 away victory in Monterrey. One can’t help but feel as if Demichelis is still figuring things out after arriving in August, and as for Jardine, his experience in Mexico and more pragmatic approach points to him fighting off Monterrey’s attacking efforts.
Club America, with a 2-1 aggregate score, should win Liga MX’s 2024 Apertura title.
