By Tony Álvarez
Ladies and gentlemen, the 2025 Leagues Cup is finally here, and it is time for the first of many “first” in this year´s tournament, as Club León will travel to Canada to face CF Montréal for the first time in history this Tuesday at Stade Saputo at 7:00 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- 1st matchup between each team
- Stade Saputo to host historic first meeting
- Club León's only Phase One game in Canada
- Record at Leagues Cup: León (2-3), Montreal (2-3)
LAST FIVE GAMES:
- CF Montréal: 1 Win, 1 Draw, 2 Losses
- Never made it past the Leagues Cup round of 32
- Club León: 1 Win, 0 Draws, 4 Losses
- Playing in Canada for 1st time since 2021 Concacaf Champions League (lost to Toronto)
MAIN STORYLINES:
- Rogelio Funes Mori recently joined Club León for the season, he joins other notable names like James Rodríguez
- CF Montréal´s has only one home-win in MLS this season (June 28 vs New York City FC)
- CF Montréal has only qualified to the second round of Leagues Cup once
- Club León did not make it past the group stage in last year's Leagues Cup tournament
- Club León has scored two goals and conceded five in three Liga MX games this season
KEY FACTORS:
- CF Montréal:
- Samuel Piette is not expected to play due to an injury
- Fabian Herbers will also be sidelined as he had a recent setback recovering from an injury
- Prince Owusu has scored 11 goals in the current season, already surpassing his total from last season with Toronto
- Club León:
- What does James Rodríguez's experience in major international tournaments mean for León
- Uncertainty at goalkeeper with Oscar García and Oscar Jiménez
- Struggles at the forward position in the start of Liga MX, just two goals in three games
WHAT TO EXPECT?
Montréal is going through a rough patch currently in their MLS season, as they have only won one game of their last five and have been held to just one home win in 2025, putting them in last place in the Eastern Conference. What better way to bounce back than with a win in the international stage against a team that has lifted the Leagues Cup trophy before.
Club León has also started their Liga MX Clausura with uncertainty after only winning one game in three matchups and conceding five goals. Rogelio Funes Mori´s arrival to the team will provide a spark up front and help James Rodriguez as the Esmeraldas look to once again be declared champions. The Mexican international has scored more than 130 goals in Liga MX.
However, uncertainty at the goalkeeper position could be a key factor in the game, as Oscar García and Oscar Jiménez have shared time at the position to start the season as there are locked up in a battle for the starting job, and the always dangerous Prince Owusu will look to score early and often in front of a home crowd that is expected to support from start to finish.
The first ever meeting between these two teams promises to be one to remember, as both squads will look to start strong in the Leagues Cup and with that set the tone for the rest of their season delivering a message to the rest of North America.
