Apertura Final Preview: Monterrey vs Club América
By Sam Plummer
The final match in the Mexican football calendar will involve Monterrey and Club América as one of them will be crowned the 2024 Apertura Champions.
Two unexpected contenders, Monterrey and Club América, have defied the odds to secure their place in the Apertura 2024 final.
Monterrey overcame a higher-seeded Pumas side with an explosive second leg, netting five goals to advance. Los Rayados then overturned a first-leg deficit in the semifinal against San Luis in spectacular fashion, scoring another five in the reverse fixture to secure their spot in their first Liga MX final in five years.
Club América secured their playoff spot with a dramatic penalty shootout win over Tijuana. They followed it up with two commanding performances against Toluca, one of the favorites to win the Apertura, earning their place in the semifinals. There, they faced a familiar rival: Cruz Azul.
Cruz Azul had a score to settle after losing to América in the 2024 Clausura final, though they had delivered a resounding 4-0 victory over them earlier in the regular season. After a tense, goalless first leg, the second leg exploded into action. In a thrilling seven-goal showdown, Las Águilas emerged victorious, sealing their place in the final.
Monterrey vs Club América
First Leg: Estadio Cuauhtémoc (Club América vs Monterrey) . Thursday 12th December 2024, 21:00 CST
Second Leg: Estadio BBVA (Monterrey vs Club América) . Sunday 15th December 2024, 21:00 CST
What we do know is that Club América, forced to play away from their iconic Estadio Azteca due to ongoing construction, will continue their home league campaign outside Mexico City at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla.
Reports suggested that Las Águilas requested for their game to be played in Toluca, at the Estadio Nemesio Diez, but the request was denied.
The club had been playing their matches at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, the home of Cruz Azul. However, with América eliminating La Maquiná from the competition, the upcoming game became a high-risk situation for spectators, given the intense rivalry between the two sides, especially after the recent semifinal clash.
Read More:
Club América Reach Apertura Final after a Action-Packed Semifinal with Cruz Azul
Monterrey Reach First Liga MX Final in Five Years
Head-to-Head
Monterrey and Club América are two of Mexico's grandest and most decorated sides. That being said, Los Rayados prepares for a first Liga MX final since 2019. On the other side, América's win over city-rivals Cruz Azul saw them qualify for their third straight final.
In recent encounters, Club América has held the upper hand. Las Águilas have won three of the last five meetings, including a dramatic 89th-minute winner from Álvaro Fidalgo in October. Monterrey’s last victory came in 2022, with now-América forward Rodrigo Aguirre scoring the decisive goal. However, before América's recent run of success, Monterrey enjoyed a six-game unbeaten streak in this fixture, a stretch that included their triumph in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions Cup final, where they were crowned champions.
The last five meetings between the two teams suggest we’re in for a high-scoring encounter. Only one of those games saw fewer than three goals, which bodes well for another thrilling clash. Monterrey, having scored five goals in both of their Liguilla second-leg matches leading up to the final, will surely be a formidable force when the sides meet on Sunday night.
Key Players
Monterrey are the goalscoring machines going into this showdown. Midfielder Óliver Torres has kickstarted his record in front of going during the Liguilla. After failing to register a single goal during the regular season, the former Europa League winner has netted three times across four games, including a brace in that second-leg victory over San Luis.
América will need to be prepared for German Berterame. Hitting the back of the net ten times this season, including four in the Liguilla, the 26-year-old will be aiming to keep his tally going to help Los Rayados win their first domestic title in five years.
At the heart of Club América's solid defence is goalkeeper Luis Malagón, who has been nominated for this year's Goalkeeper of the Year award by IFFHS. Despite conceding three goals against Cruz Azul, Malagón played a crucial role in securing back-to-back clean sheets against Toluca. He followed that up with another clean sheet in the first-leg encounter with La Maquiná, further solidifying his importance to the team's defensive strength.
Key Information
Club América are chasing a record-breaking 16th Liga MX title with a win over Monterrey this week. On the other side, Monterrey have fallen below the wayside in recent years, and this is their first final since 2019. If they become victorious, they will win their 7th Liga MX title.
André Jardine took over at Club América in June 2023 and has lifted the league title on both occasions and aims to keep that 100% record going. Monterrey's head coach Martín Demichelis joined the club in September after a spell with River Plate in Argentina. In that time, the former Bayern Munich defender guided Los Rayados to 8 wins in 16 matches.
Who do you think will lift the Liga MX Apertura 2024? Let us know!