CONCACAF Champions League Preview: LA Galaxy v Monterrey
The Los Angeles Galaxy are in a tough spot facing Monterrey in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal on Wednesday, April 10, at 10 p.m. ET.
Landon Donovan of the LA Galaxy (Google Creative Commons)
The Galaxy have to play in Mexico after losing 2-1 at home a week ago. They will need their star and leader Landon Donovan to play for more than just 30 minutes like he has been doing so far after he came back from a sabbatical. Head coach Bruce Arena knows his job better than anyone and probably knows he should let Donovan start the game.
Monterrey are not doing well in their own league in Mexico, but as stated before the first-leg match, they have the momentum. The two-time defending champions have two away goals and play at home. It’s fair to say that they’ve got one foot in.
If we’re looking, really hopelessly searching, for some kind of advantage for Galaxy, then we can probably say that they are better rested than their opponent. The LA Galaxy didn’t play on Saturday in order to rest. Monterrey played and lost 1-0. It’s fair to mention that the team was put together mostly by reserves.
Monterrey are not a team filled with surprises. In the last match, the players who scored for the Mexican team were the usual suspects Humberto Suazo and Aldo De Nigris. The two are expected to start again on Wednesday. The Rayados will probably look to kill Galaxy’s chances quickly and early on in the game so they can relax.
Many eyes will be on midfielder Juninho. He was in the core of every comments after last week’s loss. His leaving the pitch made all the difference for Galaxy who let Monterrey turn the game around in just the last 10 minutes. Coach Arena said on Friday that Juninho is doing fine and he is not a concern for the team yet.
The Galaxy were the better team in the first half a week ago. But the entire match is 90 minutes and they just couldn’t be on the same level and keep up the same tempo. Maybe the extra day off they got this week can be of help because to them the second-leg game is basically all or nothing.
