LEAGUES CUP
The best games of Leagues Cup 2023: key matchups to watch
The Leagues Cup is almost here, and these are the standout fixtures to keep an eye on.
With the intriguing tournament of the Leagues Cup about to begin, a championship which will put the best MLS teams against the top Liga MX sides, we thought that it would be a good idea to give out a guide on which games are shaping up to be the tastiest.
Of course, this is entirely based on opinion, so feel free to have your say either in the comments below or on Twitter, @English_AS.
Leagues Cup:
Inter Miami vs Cruz Azul
The first round of games has already thrown up some crackers, but it would be silly to look past the curtain raiser. In what might be the most obvious statement since Michael Owen’s “whichever team scores more goals usually wins” comment, Lionel Messi’s debut with Inter Miami is probably top of a few ‘which games to watch’ lists of this decade.
The ex-Barça player was almost guaranteed to feature against Cruz Azul in the first game of the tournament, with ticket prices skyrocketing ever since he was announced as an Inter Miami player, but now Tata Martino has poured some cold water on what seemed like a no-brainer. We don’t know if Messi will start or feature at all, but it’s certainly a tie you do not want to miss.
Club León vs Vancouver Whitecaps
The Concacaf Champions League winners and current Leagues Cup holders take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in the opening round of fixtures, and it should be a fantastic tie. After 22 games, the Whitecaps sit 7th in the Western Conference after a pretty solid season so far, having scored 38 goals, only behind St Louis City SC, who are at the top of the division.
As for León, they impressed against LAFC in the final of the Concacaf Champions League, winning 3-1 on aggregate over two legs. They have, however, had something of a rocky start in the Apertura, losing 2 games and winning just one - but that was a 4-0 win over Guillermo Almada’s free-flowing Pachuca. This game will certainly be a enticing affair.
Columbus vs St Louis City SC
The top-scoring team in the Eastern Conference (45 goals scored) vs the top scoring team in the Western Conference (43 goals scored): has Don Garber been CT scanning me in sleep to read my dreams? If you like goals, this is the one for you - and let’s face it, who doesn’t?
For Columbus, the main marksman is Lucas Zelarayán, who has bagged 10 goals in 20 games; as for SLC, their talisman is Nicholas Gioacchini, who has 8. St. Louis have three players on 5 or more goals and in total have had 12 scorers in their team, one more than Columbus. Cucho Hernández and Alexandru Matan have also been in fine form for Columbus, racking up 18 assists between them. Expect goals, I think it’s fair to say (0-0 incoming).
Nashville vs Colorado
Hany Mukhtar is as good an excuse as any to turn on the box and watch the football. The German creative water fountain has been linked with a move to Qatar in recent hours and days, and what a huge blow it would be to Nashville SC and MLS to lose him.
At 28-years-old, he continues to show his class season after season and is definitely a player to keep a close eye on, especially against Colorado in their opening game, as the Rapids sit bottom of the Western Conference having won just 3 of 23 games played.
Monterrey vs Real Salt Lake
OK, I admit that I may heave cheated a little with this one, as it’s actually part of the second round of fixtures, but let’s not squabble. If Rayados manage to sign their number one target, Sergio Canales, then every game of theirs will be worth watching.
The Spaniard will add a touch of quality to the side that are already second in Liga MX after 2 games played, and their opponent in the Leagues Cup aren’t doing too badly either. Real Salt Lake are currently sitting in third after 24 games of the Western Conference and are only four points off top spot. This one is set up to be a belter.