By Favian Renkel
New York City FC kicks off its 2025 Leagues Cup campaign in enemy territory at Sports Illustrated Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, against Liga MX side Club Puebla. The match will be broadcast on Apple TV and is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. local time.
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
- 1st matchup all-time
- Record at Leagues Cup: NYCFC (4-4), Puebla (1-3)
- Game to be played at a neutral site in Sports Illustrated Arena (home of NY Red Bulls)
LAST FIVE GAMES:
- New York City FC: 3 Wins, 1 Draw, 1 Loss
* Has scored 10 goals in their last 5 games
* Puebla: 1 Win, 0 Draws, 4 Losses
* 1 win in the last 12 games dating back to last season
MAIN STORYLINES:
- With multiple goals in 7 of their last 11 games, can NYCFC keep up this offensive pace?
- Alonso Martinez is coming off his 3rd career hat trick (2nd with NYCFC) Saturday vs Dallas, can he keep up his good form?
- NYCFC is playing their 5th straight game at a road/neutral site, can they grab a win in the home of the Red Bulls?
- Nicolás Mercau recently joined NYCFC and made his debut off the bench Friday vs Dallas. Will he get his first start in Leagues Cup?
- Can Puebla get back-to-back wins following a streak of 11 straight winless matches?
KEY FACTORS:
- New York City FC:
- Can they have another good showing at Sports Illustrated Stadium, winning two of their last three games there
- Matt Freese comes off a solid showing protecting the net for USMNT at the Gold Cup
- Can NYCFC run up the score for the much-needed Goal Differential?
- Club Puebla
- Looks for their second win ever in Leagues Cup, the other was in 2023 (in penalties over Chicago)
- Defeated Santos on Friday to snap an 11-game winless streak, can they keep that momentum going?
- Can they find a replacement for Lucas Cavallini after he suffered another ACL injury?
WHAT TO EXPECT?
With the tournament’s revamped format, every game carries added significance, and the margin for error is razor-thin. New York City FC is aiming to build on its strong showing in last year’s edition, when the Pigeons reached the quarterfinals before falling to eventual champions Columbus Crew in a penalty shootout. This year, New York is positioning itself as a potential dark horse, while Puebla seeks to make the Knockout Rounds for the first time in club history.
Each group-stage result matters, especially with the potential for multiple teams finishing with identical records. That means goal differential could be a critical tiebreaker, even if its impact won’t be felt until the final matchday of Phase One. NYCFC enters the competition in strong form. In its last MLS outing, the Boys in Blue exploded for four goals, led by a hat trick from Costa Rican international Alonso Martínez. The 26-year-old forward, who has quietly become one of MLS’s most consistent scoring threats, now has 12 goals in league play. Martínez was key to NYCFC’s run to the 2024 quarterfinals, and he added a goal in the first minute of their penalty-shootout loss. With goal differential being such a big part of this new and improved Leagues Cup, having one of the hottest strikers in the United States will surely help.
On the other side, Puebla is struggling. The Mexican club has just one win in its last 12 matches across all competitions. Under manager Pablo Guede, Puebla is hoping to flip the script and secure just its second-ever Leagues Cup victory. They are coming off a 1-0 win versus Santos Laguna, and will be looking to build on the momentum of getting their first win of the season.
Keep an eye on 22-year-old striker Esteban Lozano, who is on loan from Club América and recently found the net in the Liga MX Apertura. While Lozano is still carving out his role, he follows in the footsteps of Canadian international Lucas Cavallini, who recently suffered a 2nd significant knee injury and will miss the entirety of the Leagues Cup.
Will NYCFC unveil new Designated Player signing Nicolás Mercau, who recently helped Elche CF earn promotion to La Liga, or will head coach Pascal Jansen stick with the lineup that has kept the team in strong form? NYCFC enters the tournament with several key questions and will be hoping to find answers quickly, as the rest of its Phase One schedule is anything but forgiving. NYCFC has a clash with James Rodríguez and Club León next, followed by a matchup against reigning Liga MX champion Toluca. Puebla may be underdogs, but with Lozano leading the line and a chip on their shoulder, they’ll be eager to spoil NYCFC’s tournament opener.
For NYCFC, a fast start could set the tone for another deep Leagues Cup run. For Puebla, it’s a chance to make club history: one match, two different missions, and plenty on the line.
