The Champions Cup match between Monterrey and Inter Miami was a thrilling display of skill and determination from both teams. Monterrey emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over their opponents, showcasing their dominance on the field.
From the start, Monterrey showed their attacking prowess, putting pressure on Inter Miami's defense with quick passes and precise shots on goal. Their efforts paid off when they scored the opening goal early in the first half, setting the tone for the rest of the match.
Inter Miami, who played their fourth straight game across all competitions without Lionel Messi (hamstring), went ahead in the 19th minute through Tomás Avilés. The center back redirected home Julian Gressel's corner kick, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage.
But the match turned on its head in the 65th minute when Inter Miami midfielder David Ruiz was red-carded for his second bookable offense in four minutes. He'll now miss Leg 2 on April 10 at Monterrey's Estadio BBVA, a match that decides who meets the Herediano-Pachuca series winner in the CCC semifinals.
On Tuesday, head coach Gerardo Martino was asked about Messi's availability for Wednesday, revealing that the team hadn't made a decision yet and would proceed with caution.
"Tomorrow we will decide — we still have 24 hours," Martino said Tuesday. "Seeing that we have a very important game tomorrow, we have to consider that we are only in the beginning of April. For us, this is only just (the) beginning, and what we shouldn’t do is risk our player’s physical health."
Inter Miami assistant coach Javier Morales has said the team was aiming for Messi to return Wednesday after a three-game absence, but he was left out of the team’s lineup for Wednesday’s match.
Messi’s former Barcelona teammates Luis Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba started for Inter Miami on Wednesday.
Overall, Messi scored five goals and added two assists in five matches across all competitions for Miami this season before getting injured. He also missed both of Argentina's friendlies in the last international window due to the injury.
The MLS side bypassed the initial round of the Champions Cup by winning the inaugural edition of Leagues Cup in 2023, before beating Nashville in the round of 16 to advance to the quarterfinals.
The next match for Messi and Miami is an MLS home game against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. It is unknown at this time whether he will be available for that game.
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