Wednesday is one of the most important matches in Crew history. Outside of 4 MLS Cup finals, this CONCACAF Champions Cup (CCC) tie against Monterrey is probably the two biggest matches in club history as it’s the first time Columbus has featured in the semifinals of the region’s top club tournament. When you factor in the winner of the CCC receives a bid to the 2025 Club World Cup, the $5-million purse from CONCACAF and the reported $50 Million prize for qualifying for the Club World Cup, you can quickly see why this matchup is so important for the Black & Gold. 

Columbus enters this match on a string of 6 consecutive draws in all competitions. While this isn’t exactly a blistering run of form, the Crew has played well and been able to earn points from losing positions often throughout these matches. Monterrey has advanced to the CCC semifinals after defeating Messi’s Inter Miami in the quarterfinals. While Monterrey’s form has been mixed recently, their CCC form has been impeccable with six wins from six matches. Rayados, as they are affectionately known, will enter this matchup with every reason to be confident. However, the Black & Gold have shown a propensity for getting tough results and will be different to anybody that Rayados has played thus far. 

Monterrey at a Glance:

Record: 8-5-3, 29 points

Recent Form (All Comps): L-D-W-L-W

Leading Scorer: Brandon Vasquez, Sergio Canales(5)

Assist Leader: Sergio Canales (4)

Player to Watch: Brandon Vazquez

Columbus Crew fans, players, and staff will be aware of Vazquez thanks to his time down south and his involvement with the USMNT. Vazquez, who joined Monterrey in the last winter transfer window, has hit the ground running for Rayados. With 9 goals in 20 matches, Vazquez is enjoying his time south of the border thus far. Vazquez is a prototypical target forward. Thanks to his tall and sturdy frame, Vazquez is adept at challenging aerial balls and holding the ball in possession. Vazquez is also a menace in the 18 yd. box as he is able to finish with both feet and his head. Vazquez is able to convert both one-touch finishes and quick two-touch finishes, where he quickly controls the ball and dispatches it in the back of the net, with relative ease. 

How Monterrey plays: 

Monterrey boss Fernando Ortiz has the Rayados rolling in the CCC. Ortiz and company have won every single match they’ve played in the CCC thus far in the 2024 competition. The 46 year old Argentine is at the tail end of his first full calendar year at the helm in Monterrey and has Rayados favorably placed in both the Liga MX table and the CCC thanks to consistent principles of play and tactical flexibility from the dugout. 

Ortiz has set his side up in a variety of formations across all competitions in 2024 but seems to prefer playing in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Despite his apparent preference for this formation, he has used a 4-4-2 formation and even a 5-3-2 formation at different times this year. This flexibility seems to be based on both his opponents and potential squad selection issues like injuries or suspension. Regardless, Ortiz has Rayados well drilled in his principles of play both in and out of possession that enables his side to perform at a high level no matter the shape they find themselves in. 

When in possession, Rayados are a relatively simple team. I do not mean this in a negative way, they are incredibly effective in how they play, but it’s not overly complicated to figure out. Rayados will patiently circulate the ball from side to side probing for openings to attack. When doing so, Rayados will split their center backs into slightly wider positions and push their outside backs (or wingbacks when playing a back 5) high up the field. Their central midfielders will stay in a double pivot (2 players) a little deeper in midfield to ensure the ability to circulate the ball and defend counterattacks. Their strikers will stay high on the backline and occupy their opponent’s central defenders. Their wingers will also move into central areas and move higher on to the opponent’s line of defense to put pressure on the backline. When playing with a #10, this player is free to roam and find the ball to dictate the attack and try to unlock the opponent’s defense. Think of a player in the Lucas Zelarayan role. While this isn’t the most complex tactical system, Rayados has the players for this to be incredibly effective. It remains to be seen how much possession Rayados will command in this match, but when they are in possession they are a dangerous outfit. 

Defensively, Rayados rely on being solid in their defensive shape, limiting space in behind and in between their defensive lines and opening up space to counterattack when they win the ball. When Rayados play with a back 4, their defensive shape is almost exclusively a 4-4-2. If they are using a back 5, it looks more like a 5-3-2. Regardless, Monterrey’s modus operandi in CCC play has been to defend in a mid-block about ¾ of the way up the field and frustrate their opponents by limiting space and time to play. This has been especially prevalent in their away legs in the CCC. I expect this to be the same in this match, as Rayados will likely be more than happy to draw the Crew out, frustrate them, and then counterattack into space behind the Crew backline. 

How the Crew can win:

The Crew made history in the quarterfinal round as the first MLS side to advance past Liga MX opposition without winning the home leg. While this is exciting and indicative of a gritty team, it’s not necessarily a recipe for success. After all, it hadn’t happened before for a reason. The Crew will be looking to take an advantage with them to Monterrey from the first leg. Below are three things they need to focus on in order to do so. 

1. Score First: The Crew haven’t scored the first goal in five games. While this may seem obvious, and while the Crew has done incredibly well to not lose any of the matches in which they’ve conceded first, it isn’t a good way to approach matches. The Crew are certainly capable of coming back from deficits as they have proven, but they are infinitely better when they are playing with the lead, forcing their opponents to sacrifice space and defensive responsibilities when looking for an equalizer. This may be especially important in this match to get the crowd into the game and put pressure on Rayados. 
2. Defend Crosses from Wide Areas and Aerial Balls: The Crew has been really bad dealing with crosses and aerial balls in 2024. Rayados are very dangerous in these moments, in large part due to Vazquez and Argentine striker German Berterame. These players are good in the air in their own right, but their abilities are accentuated by the quality service they receive from their teammates. The Crew need to limit crossing opportunities for Rayados and defend these moments effectively to keep Rayados off the board. 
3. Defend the Counterattack: My gut says that Monterrey is going to be happy to defend and frustrate the Crew and live in the counter as much as possible in this game. Thus, the Crew needs to be good in defensive transition. This will be nothing new for the Black & Gold as they are always at risk for counter attacks thanks to their attacking style. However, defending counterattacks against MLS sides and Liga MX sides are very different. The Crew need to be disciplined, well-positioned and smart in order to stop Rayados counters on Tuesday.