Al Ahly - Monterrey

FIFA Club World Cup, 2013

over 2.5 goals @ 1.85, 4/10
Result: 1-5, WON

Al Ahly - Monterrey

FIFA Club World Cup 2012, Third-place play-off

Won't go on too much about this match, since I've already spoken about both these teams. Monterrey showed against Ulsan that they like to play possession football, with an emphasis on attacking moves, and they've done it with success. They also showed some glimpses of that against Chelsea, but the English-giants had by far more quality, so they didn't give the Mexicans any chances. Meanwhile, Al Ahly showed terrible defending skills against Hiroshima, and they have to thank the J-League team for squandering around 5-6 clear-cut chances. They did show some improvements against Corinthians, but the Brazilians didn't suffocate them with pressure either, as they were content with just winning by the margin and saving their energies for the final clash against Chelsea. In this match, the third place will be at stake, and I'm quite sure that both teams want it. Monterrey has the quality and skill advantage, and are rightfully favorites, even though I was expecting some lower odds for them (which means we have some value here). Won't be an easy task, but without some serious improvements for the Egyptians, I don't see them taking anything from this game. GL!

Monterrey (-0.25 AH) @ 1.94, 5/10
Result: 0-2, WON

Ulsan - Monterrey

FIFA Club World Cup 2012, Quarter-finals

I really think we should be seeing some goals here. Both teams are usually offensive-minded and with rather shaky defenses, and this competition is usually pretty high-scoring. Let's start with Ulsan, Asian Champions League winners, with an undefeated run in the competition and with 27 goals scored in 12 matches. In the local league they have finished on 5th place, but even there, the majority of their matches ended with a minimum of 3 goals, having scored 60 games in 44 games, while also conceding 52. They might not have too many foreigners in the team, or too many star-players for that matter, but they have a solid squad, that works very well together. On the other side, we have a Monterrey side who won last seasons CONCACAF Champions League, and are on route to defend their trophy, winning all matches in their group. They do like to play offensive football, and they are usually keen on sending the ball forward. And they do have some classy players in their squad: striker Humberto Suazo (Chilean international), forward Cesar Delgado (ex-Lyon), midfielder Neri Cardozo, defender and captain Jose Maria Basanta, Ecuadorian defender Walter Ayovi and forward Aldo de Nigris. They have a lot of skilled players in their team, but it will be hard against a team as Ulsan. The winner might be tough to pick, but the goals should flow. GL!

over 2 goals @ 1.71, 5/10
Result: 1-3, WON

Kashiwa - Monterrey

FIFA Club World Cup

Two mainly over-ish teams will meet today, so I'm honestly a bit surprised to see such a low line (was expecting something like 2.75). Monterrey, like all mexican teams, plays technical and offensive football, and are usually looking to score, instead of preserving the score. After their Champions League victory, they seemed to disconnect from the league, that is why there weren't any notable performances this season (only 12th place in Apertura), but they still provided some entertaining football, having the 4th best attack in the league, but also the 7th worst defense. Kashiwa plays pretty much the same style, although in their first match against Auckland they chose to keep the 2-0 advantage. Anyway, they had some dangerous offensive surges in the first half, but in the second half, when they decided to sit back and protect their lead, Auckland had a couple of runs that could have made some damage if the level of finishing would have been better. With Monterrey's class being far above Auckland's, I'm expecting them to take their chances, and I believe we should see a nice and exciting match. GL!

Over 2.25 goals @ 1.90, 4/10

Result: 1-1, HALF-LOST

Monterrey - Herediano

CONCACAF Champions League, Group Stage

Despite a relatively easy group, this should be a capital match for Monterrey. After their 2 losses (the shock 0-1 home loss with the Sounders, and the 0-1 loss at Comunicaciones), the Mexicans are left to sweat in these last 2 rounds of the group stage. Even with a win tonight, if Comunicaciones to the expected and also beat Seattle, everything will go down to the wire in the last round. But untill then, one thing is certain for Monterrey: they must win tonight. And if we look at the first leg match, this shouldn't be a problem at all. They won 5-0 in Costa Rica, despite using a pretty much second team, with only a few regulars on the field. For tonight, the expected line-up looks much better, as Humberto Suazo and Aldo de Nigris expected to command the Mexican attack, with Neri Cardozo also expected to start from the first minute. Other than them, Monterreu won't be using their best squad, they never do, but we'll see quite a few regulars on the pitch. Herediano is pretty much out of the competition, although still with mathematical chances following their last week surprise win in Seattle. However, the quality difference is huge in Monterrey's favor, they've already beaten Herediano 5-0 with a mixed squad, and are forced to record 3 points tonight. So I expect them to take the match serious, and win by at least a couple of goals. GL!

Monterrey (-1.75 AH) @ 1.82, 4/10

Result: 1-0, LOST

Monterrey - Comunicaciones

CONCACAF Champions League, Group Stage

Monterrey are in a very unpleasant position, therefore they need to improve and make a good performance, while also keeping the 3 points at home, if they are to keep hoping in qualifying to the next stage, and to defend their Champions League crown. Only 3rd place after 3 rounds, with just one win and 2 loses, and that's making the Monterrey fans shiver. So they need to start taking things seriously, and that is why it looks like coach Vucetich will use a team close to their regular squad, with only a couple of changes. And from what I've seen in the expected line-up, Humberto Suazo and Walter Ayovi should start tonight's match, providing massive fire-power against a Guatemalan side that is traditionally poor on the road. The Mexican team pretty much has the knife to their necks, and I can't possibly see how they would fail, as all the Mexican teams provide when they have to. Comunicaciones lost to Seattle Sounders in the first match day, 1-4, and conceded 2 of those goals when they were having numerical advantage on the field, so that really says a lot about their abilities. I expect a solid and convincing performance from Monterrey, something close to what they showed in their first round win, 5-0 at Herediano. GL!

Monterrey (-1.5 AH) @ 1.86, 4/10

Result: 3-1, WON

Monterrey - Seattle Sounders

CONCACAF Champions League

Both teams started this competition in high fashion, and both recorded clear wins in the first round. However, Monterrey gets the bigger round of applause, as they pounded Herediano as visitors, with a whooping 5-0. They are the defending champions, so I'm sure everyone expects them to do well, as they try to defend their title. That's probably why they haven't decided to put an exclusively reserve-team (like Pumas did last week), and I have to say, they are looking good. And for today, they have the entire squad at their disposal, including striker Humberto Suazo, who recovered from an injury and could see some action tonight. Of course, this doesn't mean we'll see a 100% team, but it should be a good mix. The Sounders also started the tournament in fashion, with a 4-1 win of Comunicaciones, despite playing with a few reserves, and with a man less for the last 30 minutes, at the score of 1-1. So a good performance overall, but Monterrey is at a whole other level. No word about the Sounders line-up for tonight, but I doubt it will be the best they have, as they played a tough match in the weekend, at Dallas (25 shots towards the goal for Dallas, but still they lost), and the players were looking dead tired at the end. Last season, Seattle and Monterrey also played in the groups, and Los Rayados won 3-2 in Mexico, despite being 0-2 down at HT, after a horrendous first half. Their win today shouldn't be in doubt.

Monterrey (-0.75 AH) @ 1.72, 4/10

Result: 0-1, LOST

Deportivo Saprissa - Monterrey

CONCACAF Champions League

Monterrey is practically qualified already for the knock-out rounds, as even if they lose both games, they have to lose it by a big difference (and I doubt Marathon can beat them by more than 2 goals), and their followers must win both remaining matches, which seems a bit of a stretch to me. That is why the Mexicans have traveled to Costa Rica without some of their main players: FW Humberto Suazo, MF Nery Cardozo, GK Orozco, DF Davino, FW Arellano and MF Ayovi are all key pieces of the team, and none of them has made the trip. Even more, neither the coach Vucetich traveled to Costa Rica, so the team will be commanded by assistant Barra. This pretty much says a lot about how the Mexicans are treating their remaining games.

Saprissa might not have had the best start of the season, neither in their local league, neither in the Champions League, but at home, they are a real force, not a losing a single game so far, and having quite a nice goal difference. Another advantage for them should be the fact that they had to postpone their league match against Puntarenas last weekend, due to heavy rains, so that leaves the entire squad fresh and fit for this game. They will surely use their strongest line-up, and top scorer Sequeira is also expected to return to first-team action. I'm expecting an all-in performance from the Costa Ricans, and I think we have nice chances of witnessing the first defeat for Monterrey in the CL. GL!

Deportivo Saprissa DNB @ 1.71, 4/10

Result: 2-2, VOID

Monterrey - Seattle Sounders

CONCACAF Champions League

No surprises for Monterrey for this match, as they will do their usual 'mix-up' in the starting team. They know quality is on their side, and they shouldn't be too nervous at all, as they are as good as qualified, and now they are only playing for the top spot, in order to avoid playing another Mexican team in the next round. That shouldn't mean they aren't motivated just because they are almost qualified, and I'm sure they won't be slackers, especially since they won all their matches so far, including a 2-0 win in Seattle, using a squad similar to what is expected today. The Sounders are as good as out of the competition, as they don't have a single point so far in the group, and the only way for them to have some chances is to make history and become the first MLS team that wins in Mexico. But that won't happen, that is why RSL will be using a team made up mostly of reserves and fringe players, as their league match against Chicago Fire is surely considered more important. Monterrey should have the upper hand here, from all points of view, and I'd be really surprised if they don't win with at least a 2-0 score. GL!

Monterrey (-1.5 AH) @ 2.03, 3/10

Result: 3-2, LOST

Monterrey - Marathon

CONCACAF Champions League

I'm also going for this matche in CONCACAF, as I really expect a day without surprises. Monterrey will, of course, mix their squad a bit, as they usually do, but I doubt that should be a problem for them, as even the reserves of the Mexican clubs are at least a class better than any other CONCACAF team. So far, they are undefeated this season, both in the league, as well as in the Champions League, and that is likely to continue after today. Marathon could be a tough nut to crack, but that's more truthful when they play at home. They have a strong physical game-style, and that helps a bit, but against such a technical team like Monterrey, this game-style will have some problems, as I doubt they'll get much of the ball. And when the Mexicans are passing the ball around, all you can do is wait for the moment they turn their possession into a vertical attack. As for Marathon's away play, they showed last match they can't cope with it too well, as they got pushed aside by Saprissa (even though they were a man down since 1-1, but I doubt they would have held on to the draw with all their man on the pitch). One more thing to remember is last year's 7-0 whooping by Toluca (also with an alternative team), a score that is maybe a bit exaggerated, but shows the real difference between Mexican and Honduran football. Small-medium stakes, as complacency of Mexican clubs is not out of the question. GL!

Monterrey (-1.5 AH) @ 1.95, 4/10

Result: 2-0, WON