Club de Fútbol Monterrey reached the Leagues Cup semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Chicago Fire on Tuesday, adding Robert Lewandowski to their list of former Barcelona stars who have fallen to Matías Almeyda's side. The quarterfinal win, sealed by a late Orbelín Pineda goal, keeps alive the possibility of a Mexican club winning the tournament for the first time, as reported by AS USA.
What happened in the match against Chicago Fire?
The game in Illinois seemed headed for a penalty shootout after a 1-1 deadlock. However, Orbelín Pineda emerged in the final minutes to score the winning goal, sparking celebrations among the Rayados faithful. Robert Lewandowski, Chicago Fire's star striker and a former Barcelona forward, was effectively neutralized by Monterrey's defense for most of the match. This victory places Almeyda's team just two games away from a historic title in the competition.
Monterrey's squad, which you can review on our squad page, showed great collective solidity to stop a rival with a world-renowned attacker. The team has demonstrated notable consistency in recent international tournaments.
Which other ex-Barcelona players have lost to Monterrey?
Lewandowski and Chicago Fire's elimination brought back memories of a similar Rayados victory in April 2024. On that occasion, in the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinals, Monterrey beat Inter Miami 3-1 and advanced 5-2 on aggregate. That Inter Miami side featured Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez, all former Barcelona players. In the second leg at Estadio BBVA, Alba was even sent off with a red card.
This pattern of results has led some outlets to label Monterrey as a kind of 'kryptonite' for players who wore the Blaugrana jersey. The streak began two years ago and has held in high-pressure matches.
What does this win mean for the Leagues Cup?
Monterrey is now one of two Mexican teams in the semifinals, alongside Club León, who beat Real Salt Lake 3-0. No Liga MX club has ever lifted the Leagues Cup trophy in its current format, and none has even reached the final. Rayados' performance in this edition sets a new benchmark for Mexican teams in the competition.
The path to the title won't be easy. Their next opponent in the semifinals will be the winner of the clash between Club América and Toluca, who face off this Wednesday. The complete schedule for the final stage is available on our fixtures page.
How is Liga MX faring in the tournament overall?
With victories for Monterrey and León, and with América and Toluca still in contention, there is a real chance all four Mexican representatives could reach the semifinals. This would send a strong message about the current level of Liga MX versus MLS. The collective performance in this 2026 Leagues Cup has been remarkable.
The Liga MX Apertura 2026 standings, which you can check on standings, show Rayados in a strong domestic position that seems to translate to the international stage. The team effectively blends experience and youth.
Club de Fútbol Monterrey's next official match is on Sunday, September 13th, visiting FC Juárez in matchday 11 of the domestic league.
