Leagues Cup is finally here and the first few days of matches provided plenty of drama across the United States. Here we’ll pick through the bones of the first 72 hours of the tournament’s action this past weekend.
Liga MX is struggling again
Jul 28, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; Queretaro FC midfielder Paulo Barrera (8) celebrates his goal with teammates during penalty kicks against New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
One thing has become abundantly clear since Leagues Cup expanded in 2023 —home-field advantage is key when Liga MX and MLS clubs square off.
When it comes to CONCACAF Champions Cup action, Mexican clubs are nearly impenetrable on home soil, yet Leagues Cup has begun to prove that MLS clubs have closed the gap when playing in front of their own fans.
With a few days of Leagues Cup 2024 behind us, only one Liga MX club has picked just one win in the eight showdowns with MLS clubs, Atlas against Houston Dynamo.
While this may be a worrying trend after an all-MLS final in 2023, it must be mentioned that none of Tigres, Monterrey, Cruz Azul, Pachuca, or América have kicked off their tournament campaigns yet. Surely some of those giants will find some success.
América and Columbus have a big advantage
Jul 27, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Crew goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen (1) center flanked by defender Malte Amundsen (18) left and midfielder Darlington Nagbe (6) after the Leagues Cup Showcase game against Aston Villa at Lower.com Field. Mandatory Credit: Graham Stokes-USA TODAY Sports
Club América and the Columbus Crew are sitting comfortably with their feet up waiting for the round of 32 to come around thanks to booking automatic passage after success in their respective leagues in the 2023 campaign.
After the high-scoring affairs, head coach-referee showdowns, crunching tackles, red-cards, both sides will surely be keen to let their future opponents take chunks out of each other in the group stage before arriving in the last-32.
The Crew in particular will be out for revenge after a superb Champions Cup run ended in defeat in Mexico, thanks in large part to the squad and staff getting food poisoning the day of the final against Pachuca. They stayed in form this past week with a 4-1 friendly win against Premier League side Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, América may just be the tournament favorites, and will look for revenge of their own after losing on…