LIGA MX
Cruz Azul, Rogelio Funes Mori’s favorite victims
El Mellizo has been a real headache for the Cementeros. Will he be on target again tonight? Let’s look at his record.
A great game is in store for fans of the Liga MX. Later tonight Pumas open the doors of the University Olympic Stadium to Cruz Azul, in Week 13 of the Clausura 2024. A confrontation that, without being a Clásico, is steeped in tradition. For that reason, is a game no one wants to miss; combined with a whole range of other factors that make this particular encounter even more attractive.
Cruz Azul, the third favorite victim of Funes Mori
One of them concerns Rogelio Funes Mori. El Mellizo has constantly had Cruz Azul in his sights since the day he arrived in Mexican Soccer. Now with Pumas, he hopes to extend his record against La Máquina.
Cruz Azul is one of the rivals who the Argentinean has scored the most goals against in the Mexican league. According to Liga MX records, Rogelio has found the net a total of 10 times against the Celestes. In his personal list, they figure as his third favorite victims.
Rogelio Funes Mori's goals against Cruz Azul
- Week 3 Apertura 2017 Monterrey 1-1 Cruz Azul
- Week 16 Apertura 2021 Monterrey 1-0 Cruz Azul
- Week 7 Clausura 2021 Monterrey 2-2 Cruz Azul
- Week 7 Clausura 2022 Monterrey 2-2 Cruz Azul
- Week 2 Clausura 2023 Cruz Azul 2-3 Monterrey
- Liguilla Apertura 2022 Cruz Azul 1-4 Monterrey*
- Liguilla Apertura 2023 Monterrey 3-0 Cruz Azul
- CONCACAF Champions Cup 2021 Cruz Azul 1-4 Monterrey*
*two goals
Topping Funes Mori’s personal hitlist are Atlas - a team he has scored 15 goals against over the years. That’s followed by a four-way tie: Pachuca, América, León and Santos with 11 goals against. If he manages to find the target against Martín Anselmi’s team tonight, the Noria squad would move into second, and a brace would place them second outright.
Interestingly, he has never scored at the Ciudad Universitaria - during his nine seasons with Rayados he was never able to score against his current team, Pumas as hosts.
The 33-year-old recently returned to activity after missing just over two months with a rib injury, so we will have to wait and see whether he features in the starting XI this evening. He came on for the last half hour in the last two games, against Tijuana and Toluca.
Coach Gustavo Lema could consider playing with two strikers, lining him alongside Guillermo Martínez or top scorer Carlos Huerta - a strategy he hasn’t used from the start in the Liga MX although it worked out well for him during the 4-0 friendly win against Comuniciones during the FIFA break.