Rayados, Cruz Azul clash in Champions Cup Round of 16 | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup continues with CF Monterrey hosting Cruz Azul in the first leg of their Round of 16 series on Tuesday at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico.

It will be the first time the clubs meet in the Champions Cup since their semifinals clash in the 2021 edition, which Monterrey won 5-1 on aggregate. This series will mark the first time they meet in the tournament’s Round of 16.

Cruz Azul is the reigning Champions Cup winner and is making its fifth Round of 16 appearance. The club has advanced in all the prior instances.

CF Monterrey will also be playing in the Round of 16 for the fifth time, having advanced four times and being eliminated once, by the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2025.

Led by a hat trick from Luka Romero, La Máquina cruised to an 8-nil aggregate win over Vancouver FC in Round One. 

Rayados advanced past Guatemala’s Club Xelajú 3-1 on aggregate in Round One.

This series will be the third Round of 16 series between Liga MX clubs. The previous two were between Club América and Club Guadalajara (2024 and 2025), with Las Aguilas advancing on both occasions.

All-Time series 

Cruz Azul and CF Monterrey will meet again in the Concacaf Champions Cup five years later, and for the first time in the Round of 16. Their previous encounters came in the semifinals, with Monterrey holding the edge in the series (W-3 D-1).

Series results: 8-3 aggregate in favor of CF Monterrey

Semifinals

March 16, 2011, Estadio Tecnológico, Monterrey, MEX: CF Monterrey 2 (Neri Cardozo 9’, Sergio “La Gacela” Santana 55’) Cruz Azul 1 (Adrián Cortés 48’).

April 6, 2011, Estadio Azul, Mexico City, MEX: Cruz Azul 1 (César Villaluz 23’) CF Monterrey 1 (Humberto “Chupete” Suazo penalty 81’).

August 11, 2021, Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, MEX: CF Monterrey 1 (Maxi Meza 9’) Cruz Azul 0.

September 16, 2021, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, MEX: Cruz Azul 1 (Orbelín Pineda 10’) CF Monterrey 4 (Maxi Meza 7’, Duván Vergara 17’, Rogelio Funes Mori 24’, 52’).

Fifth Round of 16 appearance for Cruz Azul

Cruz Azul will contest its fifth Round of 16 series in club history (W-6 D-2 GF-22 GA-3). They advanced in:

• 2020 vs Portmore United FC (JAM)

• 2021 vs Arcahaie FC (HAI)

• 2022 vs Forge FC (CAN)

• 2025 vs Seattle Sounders FC (USA)

CF Monterrey Round of 16 record

CF Monterrey will play its fifth Round of 16 series (W-5 D-3 GF-13 GA-5). They advanced four times and were eliminated once:

• 2019 vs Alianza FC (SLV)

• 2021 vs Atlético Pantoja (DOM)

• 2024 vs FC Cincinnati (USA)

• 2025 eliminated vs Vancouver Whitecaps FC (CAN)

Third Round of 16 series between Liga MX teams

The matchup between Cruz Azul and CF Monterrey will be the third Round of 16 series between Liga MX clubs. The previous two were between Club América and Club Guadalajara in 2024 and 2025, with América advancing on both occasions.

Top scorers in the Round of 16: Cruz Azul (MEX): Lucas Passerini (2), Walter Montoya (2), Juan Escobar (2). CF Monterrey (MEX): Brandon Vázquez (2), Vincent Janssen (2).