Cruz Azul - CF Monterrey: summary: score, goals, highlights, Liga MX 2023 Clausura

FT: Cruz Azul 2-3 Rayados

The whistle sounds and Rayados hang on to secure their first win of the new season but were made to sweat by the ten men of Cruz Azul.

Last chance saloon as Cruz Azul win a corner...

Silva almost finds the target as his header drifts over the bar.

Andrada now carded too for time wasting.

Five minutes to be added

Great late rally for the home side. Monterrey are hanging on now.

Cruz Azul win a dangerous free. A golden chance for the home side.

Rivero to take...fine strike as Andrada fists the ball away from the danger zone.

Five left at the Azteca.

Corona is forced into action and saves well. The small crowd at the Azteca have found their voice now and are doing their bit to rally 'La Maquina' on.

Germán Berterame puts the ball into his own net now after a Cruz Azul corner. 

Can the ten men find that all important 3rd goal ?

Goooooooooool. Cruz Azul pull one back....

Cruz Azul 1-3 Rayados

The ball falls kindly for the Argentine as he slots right into the corner and nothing Corona could do about that.

Gooooool. What a strike from Germán Berterame as the Argentine bags his second of the night.

Final fifteen at the Azteca and Cruz Azul are finally giving the home fans something to get excited about as they dig deep with the ten men and now it's Rayados who are under pressure.

A further Cruz Azul switch

Ramiro on for Rodolfo Rotondi

The second Monterrey goal and the red card for Estrada soon afterwards have Cruz Azul reeling with it difficult to see the home side finding a foothold in the contest.

Escobar carded for protesting.

Double switch for Cruz Azul

Charly off - Jordan on 

Rodriguez off - Lotti on

Corona gets a card for apparent time wasting... odd considering his team are trailing.

Monterrey now patiently building as Cruz Azul have all ten men behind the ball.

Rayados made the click in approximately the 35th minute and from that instant have been the dominant side.

Cruz Azul have now 30 minutes to try and turn things around with just ten men.

The injured Ortiz makes way for Govea for Rayados.

Estrada makes for the dugout ... Cruz Azul now with a huge uphill battle

Second card for Estrada as he leads with his elbow and the home side will now have to play the rest of the game with 10 men.

Aguirre finds the Argentine in a sweeping move and the visitors are right in the groove now

Funes Mori makes it 1-2 for Rayados

Great work from Monterrey as they break with speed and almost create an opening as Corona in the Cruz Azul goal is forced to intervene. 

The card is out and the name of Estrada is taken as the Ecuador international clips Medina.

Rayados start as they finished the first half as Funes Mori wins a corner in the first minute. 

Only 15,000 fans here at the Azteca tonight which is well down on the 30,000 that were anticipated. 

The sides return to the pitch at the Azteca. 

Difficult to call on how this game will pan out.

Monterrey certainly finished the stronger side and were boosted by the Germán Berterame goal.

Rayados finally got into their groove just as the half time whistle sounded.

The home side have faded somewhat as the half wore on.

All square at the Estadio Azteca at the interval

HT: 1-1

Cruz Azul-Rayados - 45-55 % possession

Cruz Azul-Rayados - 6-11 total shots

Cruz Azul-Rayados - 3-5 - shots on target

Monterrey finishing the half on a positive and Cruz Azul seem to be out of sorts now as the referee sounds the whistle and brings the half to an end.

The goal seems to have galvanised Rayados as Funes Mori has moved into a more out and out attacking position.

We'll have three minutes of added time.

Germán Berterame slams the ball home from short range after a fine dummy from Funes Mori.

Alexis Gutierrez almost makes it 2-0 but Andrada tips the shot wide and it's the home side that are creating the better clear cut chances.

Sustained pressure from Rayados but the visitors are very predictable with their build-up play. 

Cruz Azul are masters of striking on the break and seem happy to absorb pressure and then strike.

Never a penalty !

Correct from the match official.

Monterrey just lacking that final pass and a little more spark tonight as they now chase the game.

Charly goes to ground in the box and appeals for a spot kick. The referee waves play on to the anger of the home fans.

Cruz Azul take the lead

Antuna fires the home side ahead.

Lovely threaded ball from Charly Dominguez and a sweet first time strike from the Cruz Azul striker.

Andrada is called upon and fists the ball away after a fine strike from distance from the home side.

Monterrey were in action midweek as they played a friendly game against River Plate with a 78th minute goal for the Argentine enough to secure a slender 1-0 win for the Buenos Aires team.

The home side shading things in terms of possession so far as we head towards the 25 minute mark.

Funes Mori (Rogelio) has a go from range but fails to secure accuracy on the effort and the ball drifts wide. 

Monterrey peppering shots on the Cruz Azul goal from range but little accuracy and danger on the strikes.

Antuna from distance for Cruz Azul as the ball whistles just feet wide of the Monterrey goal.

Great strike from the visitors as the ball just drifts over the ball. 

We've yet to see Michael Estrada get on the ball tonight with the Ecuador international a major source of danger for the home side.

Rayados win a dangerous free as Funes Mori is clipped and Cruz Azul on the defence here as Corona organises his wall.

Plenty of imprecision from both teams with Monterrey being especially wasteful on the ball.

Little for Corona to do in the Cruz Azul goal apart from the early Rayados shot in the second minute.

Ten minutes gone and just one early chance for Rayados to talk about in the matchday 2 Clausura clash.

Rayados are six games unbeaten against Cruz Azul in six games and despite their poor start at home last week are fancied to get a positive result tonight.

Cruz Azul seem to have managed that early wave of pressure as they now control the possession. 

Smoke drifts across the stadium after the home fans do their bit to create atmosphere with smoke bombs.

Monterrey enjoying the brighter start as the visitors have taken the initattive at the start of the game 

Rayados fans present at the Azteca

The side from the north are not alone today with numerous Monterrey fans gathered at the Azteca for the Clausura 2023 clash.

The teams are in the tunnel at the Azteca. A spartan crowd at the iconic stadium it has to be said. 

Less than ten minutes ahead of kick-off at the Azteca. 

Both teams warming up at the vast 80,000 plus stadium with fans slowly starting to arrive at the ground. 

We saw a very poor showing of fans last week as America faced Queretaro and with tonight's opponents being of higher profile, we should have a respectable showing at the Azteca tonight.

A reminder of the teams for tonight's Clausura 2023 clash with kick-off just over 20 minutes away.

New Rayados signing Víctor Guzmán on Rayados bench

Monterrey already have a replacement for César Montes, who shone at the Qatar 2022 World Cup with
​​​​​​​Mexico and secured a move to Espanyol in Barcelona.

Víctor Guzmán moved to Rayados from Xolos de Tijuana this week with the 20-year-old on the bench for tonight's clash at the Azteca.

Rayados XI

Vicente Manuel Vucetich has gone for Andrada, Moreno, Gallardo, Medina, Aguirre, Ortíz, González, Romo, Funes Mori, Berterame & Aguirre for the visitors.​​​​​​

Cruz Azul XI

These are the eleven players Raul Guiterrez has selected for tonight's clash at the Azteca: Corona, Escobar, Funes Mori, Lira, Gutiérrez, Rivero, Huescas, Rodríguez, Rotondi, Antuna & Estrada.

Funes Mori and Charly arrive at the Azteca

The Cruz Azul squad are at the famous stadium with Charly Dominguez and Ramiro Funes Mori expected to start for 'La Maquina' tonight.

Defeat set to add pressure on Vucetich

Having assembled the most expensive team in the league, a defeat at the hands of Cruz Azul tonight would see pressure mount on Rayados head coach Vicente Manuel Vucetich following the season opener last week where his team fell at home to Chivas.

Next up for Rayados

Rayados are back at the Estadio BBVA for the matchday 3 clash where they welcome At. San Luis, Matchday 4 involves an away trip to Puebla before facing beaten 2022 Apertura finalists Toluca on matchday 5.
​​​​​​

Next up for Cruz Azul

After tonight's home clash against Rayados, Cruz Azul have two back to back games on the road as they face Necaxa in matchday three and then face Queretaro on matchday 4.

Their matchday 5 clash is a stern test at the Azteca at home to Tigres.

Rayados dressing room is ready

The men from Monterrey will wear their home kit this evening with white being the predominant colour on the traditional blue and white stripes with Cruz Azul to sport their classic all blue kit.

Funes Mori twins go head-to-head

Tonight's Azteca contest pits twins Rogelio Funes Mori against his brother Ramiro who plays for Cruz Azul.

Both players have enjoyed careers playing at clubs around the world with the twins initially cutting their teeth in the game at the River Plate youth set up in their native Argentina. 

Ramiro has played for Everton, Villarreal and Al Nassr before moving to Cruz Azul. 

Rogelio had a spell with Benfica and in Turkey before moving to Rayados in 2015 where has has pulled on the famous blue and white striped jersey on more than 230 occasions.

La Maquina looking to avenge Apertura 2022 play-off defeat

Both sides came face to face in last season's Apertura quarter-final and after a tense 0-0 draw at the Azteca, Monterrey ran out 3-0 winners at the Estadio BBVA in a game where the side from the capital deserved more with two of the Rayados goals coming late on in the contest.

Raul Gutierrez and his side are now offered an excellent opportunity to secure revenge by inflicting another defeat on Monterrey in the second game of the Clausura 2023 season.

Tonight's match official

César Arturo Ramos Palazuelos has been enlisted to oversee tonight's clash at the Azteca.

One of the more decorated Liga MX referee's the 39-year-old took charge of three games at the 2018 Russia World Cup and is fresh from overseeing four games at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Cruz Azul vs Monterrey: last five meetings

October 2022, Liga MX: Monterrey 3-0 Cruz Azul

October 2022, Liga MX: Cruz Azul 0-0 Monterrey

September 2022, Liga MX: Monterrey 3-2 Cruz Azul

January 2022, Liga MX: Monterrey 2-2 Cruz Azul

November 2021, Liga MX: Cruz Azul 1-4 Monterrey

Matchday weather report courtesy of Rayados

A mild January evening in CDMX with a remote chance of rain during the Clausura clash.

Ideal conditions for players and fans alike.

Cruz Azul looking to build on Copa Sky success

Despite being 'just' a pre-season tournament, Cruz Azul were buoyed by their Copa Sky win after they topped a five team group and overcame Chivas in the Guadalajara final to inject some badly needed morale into Raul Gutierrez' side. 

Cruz Azul were held to a 1-1 draw last week in their Clausura opener as they travelled to Tijuana whilst Monterrey got off to a disappointing start falling 0-1 at home to Chivas.

The game between the 'Maquina' and 'Rayados' gets under way at 5 pm local time (6 pm ET or 3 pm PT).

Welcome to our matchday 2 Clausura 2023 Liga MX coverage as we head once again to the Estadio Azteca as Cruz Azul welcome CF Monterrey.