Montreal in Mexico City for leg 1 of quarterfinals
CF Montréal is set to continue its journey in the Concacaf Champions League this Wednesday, March 9, when it takes on Mexican side Cruz Azul in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals (One Soccer, 91,9 Sports, TSN 690).
Wilfried Nancy’s men qualified to the final 8 when they defeated Santos Laguna 3-1 on aggregate, which included a thumping 3-0 victory in the return leg at Olympic Stadium.
Despite its successful start to the Champions League, Montreal has struggled coming out of the gate in MLS, as all teams playing in the continental tournament tend to do at the league level. Montreal was able to take the lead in its home opener last Saturday against Philadelphia, but head coach Jim Curtin’s men were able to score twice in quick succession early in the second half to take the three points at the end.
Mexican giants Cruz Azul have also had their issues in Liga MX, winless in their last three games and currently sitting fifth in the Clausura. Both will be looking to find their form this Wednesday when they take each other on at Estadio Azteca.
“We have a way of playing, and what I want to see is my team play the way we usually play,” said head coach Wilfried Nancy. “We know there will be difficult moments, and we know that playing away against a Mexican team is difficult. Mexican teams tend to be aggressive, they like to press, and to play with a high level of intensity. We’re going to have to match that intensity, but we also need to be good on the ball, because we know we can do something good when we have it. But we need to play our game, and that is going to be my message to the players.”
A return to the Azteca
This will mark just the second time CF Montréal plays a game at the legendary Azteca, the first being back in the first leg of the 2015 Champions League final against Club America. Montreal managed to emerge unscathed from that game with a 1-1 draw, and it’ll be hoping to do the same this time around against Cruz Azul.
“It’s exciting. I do this job to play in legendary stadiums like the Azteca,” explained Nancy. “I’m going to take it all in and make sure my eyes are wide open to take in the atmosphere. I also like looking at the facilities other stadiums have to see what ideas we can take home. But we are very happy to be playing against this team, in this stadium.”
Striker Romell Quioto, who was shown to yellow cards in the round of 16, will be suspended for the first leg against Cruz Azul.
The return leg of the quarterfinal matchup will take place next Wednesday, March 16, at 8pm at Olympic Stadium. Tickets for the decisive leg are still available here. The Club will play in MLS in between both matchups on March 12, taking on defending champions NYCFC at Yankee Stadium at 1pm.
