International soccer returns to BBVA Compass Stadium this weekend as C.F. Monterrey (Mexico) and C.D. Aguila (El Salvador) meet in a friendly at 3 p.m. on Sunday at BBVA Compass Stadium (TICKETS). Here is a primer on Monterrey.
C.F. Monterrey has been a giant in North American soccer for the last decade, winning three consecutive CONCACAF Champions League titles from 2011-13. Los Rayados finishing third at the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup after falling to Chelsea in the semifinals.
Manager: Antonio Mohamed, an Argentinian midfielder as a player, has managed across the Americas over the last decade, with stops at Club America, Tijuana, Independiente, and others. He won Liga MX titles with Tijuana (2012 Apertura) and Club America (2014 Apretura) and a Copa Sudamericana with Independiente in 2010.
Key players: Rogelio Mori (11 goals), Edwin Cardona (10 goals) and Dorlan Pabon (7 goals) have done the heavy lifting, combining for 28 of Monterrey’s 31 goals during the current Apertura season. Mori, 24, is in his first season with Rayados after time with River Plate, Benfica and in Turkey. Cardona, 22, already has 10 appearances for the Colombia national team and scored against Peru in a World Cup qualifying match last month. Pablon, 27, is a well-traveled Colombian winger, with stops at Valencia, Real Betis, Parma and Sao Paulo before transferring to Monterrey last June.
The squad also boasts Mexican international and 2010 World Cup veteran Pablo Barrera, Aldo de Nigris (third on Monterrey scoring list with 69 goals), Mexican national team goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco and El Tri defender Hiram Mier, who starred at the 2012 London Olympics.
The Monterrey club no longer features all-time scorer Humberto Suazo, the Chilean international who scored 121 goals over two stints with Rayados and dominated the Champions League.
Current standing: Unbeaten in five of its last six, Monterrey is tied for eighth place with Morelia with one game left in the Apertura season, and holds the final playoff spot due to goal difference. Monterrey is undefeated at home this campaign (4-0-4) but must visit second-place Toluca on the final game of the season Nov. 22.
Fun Fact I: Among Mexican clubs, Monterrey is among the most associated with its nickname: Los Rayados (aka the striped ones) due to the classic blue and white striped uniform they’ve worn since the 1960s.
Fun fact II: Los Rayados may feel at home at BBVA Compass Stadium as their new home stadium is named Estadio BBVA Bancomer. The 51,000 seat venue opened in August after Monterrey called Estadio Tecnologico home for 63 years.
