Facing a 2-1 aggregate deficit, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami travel to hostile territory as they meet Monterrey in Mexico for the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal.
Having missed last week’s home defeat due to injury, Messi will look to come to his new club’s rescue once again, facing an uphill task that many MLS clubs have failed to accomplish. In this year’s competition alone, MLS clubs have suffered defeat in all three trips to Mexico, by a combined 12-3 scoreline.
Yet with Messi on the field, Inter Miami have dug themselves out of holes before. The Argentine carried the Herons to last year’s Leagues Cup title – their first every trophy – and his goals have dragged Inter Miami to results on numerous occasions.
Just two weeks ago, Messi scored a 92nd-minute equalizer to secure a 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy, and he brought Inter Miami a goal back against Nashville SC in the previous Champions Cup round while trailing by a pair en route to a 2-2 draw. If they wish to generate an unprecedented come-from-behind result in this two-legged tie, they’ll need Messi’s heroics yet again, this time in an extremely hostile environment.
The Sporting News is following the Monterrey vs Inter Miami match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Inter Miami vs Monterrey live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| Monterrey | – | – |
| Inter Miami | – | – |
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. local (10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT)
Location: Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico)
Referee: Ivan Barton (SLV)
Starting lineups:
Monterrey (4-4-2, right to left): Andrada (GK) — 14. Aguirre, 4. Guzman, 33. Medina, 3. Arteaga — 11. Meza, 27. Romo, 10. Canales, 17. Gallardo — 9. Berterame, 23. Vazquez.
Inter Miami (5-3-2, right to left): 1. Callender (GK) — 57. Weigandt, 6. Aviles, 21. Freire, 32. Allen, 18. Alba — 24. Gressel, 5. Busquets, 20. D. Gomez — 10. Messi, 9. Suarez.
Inter Miami vs Monterrey: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
30 mins to kickoff: Inter Miami owner David Beckham has made his way to Monterrey for tonight’s match! Will he see a historic turnaround from his side, or will Liga MX once again assert their dominance in continental play?
Sir David Beckham en el Estadio BBVA previo a los Cuartos de Final de Vuelta de la Concachampions 2024 entre Monterrey y el Inter de Miami. BIENVENIDO. pic.twitter.com/ehJMS7k6kh
— Soy Rayado 🌟 (@SomosRayados) April 11, 2024
45 mins to kickoff: The Monterrey lineup is out as well, and head coach Fernando Ortiz is going for it, refusing to back down from Lionel Messi and Inter Miami despite already holding a 2-1 aggregate lead. He has set up in a 4-4-2 diamond, with Luis Romo at the No. 6 and Sergio Canales at the No. 10.
The key wrinkle is that both strikers German Berterame and Brandon Vazquez, who have been in a platoon since the latter joined this winter, both start up front. Can Inter Miami handle the hosts and their attacking intent?
¡Rayados listo para el duelo decisivo! 🏟️🙌 pic.twitter.com/2rG5WdHhGq
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) April 11, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: The Inter Miami starting lineup is out, and you guessed it — Lionel Messi starts! Benjamin Cremaschi isn’t ready for a start just yet, with Diego Gomez and Julian Gressel flanking Sergio Busquets in midfield.
Stage is set 🎬 pic.twitter.com/mSrburm9Gj
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 11, 2024
1 hour 15 mins to kick: MLS clubs have had an awful time on the road against Liga MX clubs in this competition, as Mexican teams continue to dominate the continental championship.
The last victory in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by an MLS club over a Liga MX opponent on the road came in February of 2019 when Sporting KC beat Toluca 2-0 in the Round of 16. Since then, MLS clubs have suffered 15 defeats and three draws on Mexican soil, all to a combined scoreline of 52-10.
The Columbus Crew pulled out a positive result yesterday, advancing past Tigres on penalties, but it still came on a 1-1 regulation draw, meaning the streak continues.
COLUMBUS IS MOVING ON!!!! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ueiWFLMJ3c
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) April 10, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Benjamin Cremaschi couldn’t have timed his return to the squad better, as Inter Miami will be without the suspended David Ruiz for tonight’s match. It’s unclear whether Cremaschi, fresh off his recovery from hernia surgery, is fit enough to start tonight, but if he is, you’d expect him to slide into the XI straightaway.
Cremaschi was a rising star last season, and is still just 19 years old. He’s eligible to play for both the U.S. and Argentine national team, and accepted a call-up to the United States last year in a friendly, but has not been cap tied to either nation. It’s unlikely his ceiling is that of the Argentina national team, but there’s still high hopes for him as a true No. 8 midfielder.
What a way to score your first MLS goal 😤
Benjamin Cremaschi rips this to put #InterMiamiCF on top. pic.twitter.com/IQ9eyyiFeV
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 9, 2023
1 hour 45 mins to kick: Estadio BBVA is one of the most picturesque venues not just in North America, but in the world. What a view!
Decent view from Monterrey pic.twitter.com/W7PP0ZWPln
— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) April 10, 2024
2 hours to kickoff: The performance by MLS clubs on the road in Mexico in this competition is a sobering reminder of Liga MX’s dominance on a continental level. The last victory in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by an MLS club over a Liga MX opponent on the road came in February of 2019 when Sporting KC won at Toluca by a 2-0 score in the Round of 16.
Since then, MLS clubs have played to 14 defeats and two draws on Mexican soil, all to a combined scoreline of 46-7. MLS clubs have suffered three defeats in three trips to Mexico in this year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup alone, highlighted by a 6-0 thrashing of the Philadelphia Union by Pachuca back in mid-March.
MLS’ disappointing results against Liga MX opponents in the CONCACAF Champions Cup is having a detrimental impact on their standing in Opta’s ranking of the world’s strongest leagues. MLS has fallen out of the top 10 as a result. 📉https://t.co/gWTNn2ymF6
— World Soccer Talk (@worldsoccertalk) April 4, 2024
Inter Miami vs Monterrey stats
- MLS clubs have suffered three defeats in three trips to Mexico in this year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup by a combined 12-3 scoreline.
- The last victory in the CONCACAF Champions Cup by an MLS club over a Liga MX opponent on the road came in February of 2019 when Sporting KC beat Toluca 2-0 in the Round of 16. Since then, MLS clubs have suffered 15 defeats and three draws on Mexican soil, all to a combined scoreline of 52-10.
- Since joining the club last summer, Inter Miami have 12 wins in 18 matches (four draws and one defeat) across all competitions when Lionel Messi starts the match, scoring 41 goals and conceding just 16. With Messi out of the starting lineup, Inter Miami have three wins compared to five draws and eight defeats. The only club to beat Inter Miami with Messi in the starting lineup was Charlotte FC on the final day of the 2023 MLS regular season.
Inter Miami vs Monterrey lineups, team news
Mexican internationals Luis Romo, Jesus Gallardo, and Gerardo Arteaga are the pillars in this squad, and they added significant talent in the offseason with the arrivals of Jorge Rodriguez from Estudiantes, Sergio Canales from Real Betis, and Brandon Vazquez from FC Cincinnati.
Along with fringe Mexico international Erick Aguirre and retired El Tri veteran Hector Moreno, this team is bursting with talent to the point where head coach Fernando Ortiz is finding it difficult to fit everyone in. Vazquez has been forced to split time with Argentine striker German Berterame up front, but tonight they both start in a 4-4-2 diamond.
36-year-old Hector Moreno started the first leg alongside Victor Guzman at center-back, but tonight Stefan Medina enters the lineup as Guzman and Sebastian Vegas both sit.
Monterrey starting lineup (4-4-2 diamond): Andrada (GK) — Aguirre, Guzman, Moreno, Arteaga — Meza, Romo, Canales, Gallardo — Berterame, Vazquez.
Monterrey subs (12): (Cardenas (GK), Ramos, E. Gutierrez, Leone, Bustos, Govea, J. Martinez, Cortizo, A. Gonzalez, V. Lopez, Garza, Moxica.
After coming off the bench for the second half against Colorado on the weekend, Lionel Messi is fit to start this match. Luis Suarez was one of many regulars rested over the weekend, but he also returns to the lineup alongside Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.
Unavailable for this match is David Ruiz who was sent off in the first leg and will be suspended here. Not fit to participate is Robert Taylor who was injured in the first leg and will miss a few weeks with a hamstring issue. Serhiy Kryvtsov is also out with a hamstring injury, while Federico Redondo needs a few more weeks to recover from his knee problem. Benjamin Cremaschi may be ready for minutes after making the bench over the weekend as he returns from hernia surgery.
Ian Fray is nearing a return from his third ACL tear, but will be brought back very slowly, while Facundo Farias will miss the season with his own cruciate ligament rupture.
Inter Miami starting lineup (5-3-2): Callender (GK) — Weigandt, Aviles, Freire, Allen, Alba — Gressel, Busquets, D. Gomez — Messi, Suarez.
Inter Miami subs (9): Dos Santos (GK), Sailor, Jensen, Negri, Cremaschi, Sunderland, Bright, Afonso, Borgelin.
How to watch Inter Miami vs Monterrey
- Date: Wed, Apr. 11, 2024
- Time: 10:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. PT
- TV channel (USA): FS1 (English), TUDN (Spanish)
- Streaming (USA): Fubo, Fox Sports GO, TUDN app/website
Fox Sports holds the English-language broadcast rights to CONCACAF competitions in the United States. Therefore, this match will be televised in English across the United States on FS1. There is also a Spanish-language broadcast available on TUDN.
Both channels are available to stream on Fubo, with a free trial available for new users. There is also streaming on the dedicated in-house apps and platforms for both broadcast partners.
- TV channel (Canada): OneSoccer
- Streaming (Canada): Fubo Canada
OneSoccer is the official broadcast partner for CONCACAF competitions in Canada, with this match given priority for the channel. OneSoccer is available to stream on Fubo Canada.
