RSL Prepare For Inaugural League’s Cup Match Against Tigres UANL.
Jul 23, 2019, 1:19 PM
LEON, MEXICO - MAY 26: Guido Pizarro (C) of Tigres lifts the Championship Trophy to celebrate with teammates after the final second leg match between Leon and Tigres UANL as part of the Torneo Clausura 2019 Liga MX at Leon Stadium on May 26, 2019 in Leon, Mexico. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake have an opportunity to get back to form as they prepare to host Liga MX team Tigres UANL in the inaugural League’s Cup tournament this Wednesday evening.
The League’s Cup will feature four Major League Soccer and Liga MX teams in an eight team tournament hosted in the United States. Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, Houston Dynamo and the LA Galaxy will represent MLS while America, Cruz Azul, Tigres UANL and Tijuana will represent Liga MX.
While the MLS teams have played upwards of twenty games during their long and enduring season, the teams from Liga MX have only played one. The Liga MX 2019/20 season started on the July 19th with Real Salt Lake’s opponent Tigres UANL beating Monarcas 4-2 at home.
This Wednesday, Real Salt Lake faces off against Tigres at the RioT! Get your limited edition Match Day Poster at the section 24 Team Store Kiosk or East Lawn Plaza on game day. Only 200 printed so get yours quick! #StrongerTogether | https://t.co/BzCp6KNlmv pic.twitter.com/NOTAQsvZx0
— RSL Foundation (@RSLfoundation) July 23, 2019
Who Are Tigres UANL?
Tigres UANL was founded in 1960 and has been a member of Liga MX for 59 years. They have won Liga MX seven times and are annually a force to be reckoned with.
Their home stadium, Estadio Universitario, seats 41,650 and is sold out every time they play at home.
Manager Ricardo Ferretti has been in charge since 2010 and currently plays a 4-2-3-1 formation, very similar to how RSL line up.
Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzman has been at the club since 2014. The Argentinean international has represented his national team on six different occasions. He is very consistent and is a key player for the success of Tigres UANL.
Star striker and French International, Andre-Pierre Gignac has had an illustrious career. He has represented the reigning World Cup winners thirty six times, scoring on seven occasions and has been at Tigres UANL since 2015 appearing one hundred and fifty two times and scoring ninety goals. Gignac stands at six feet one inch and is a force both in the air and on the ground.
📹Antes de irnos, revivamos, a nivel de cancha, el cuarto gol del partido, y segundo de @JavierAquino7. ⚽️⚽️🔥 pic.twitter.com/g3FDKq65d8
— Club Tigres Oficial (@TigresOficial) July 21, 2019
RSL Clup Update.
RSL are reasonably healthy heading into the League’s Cup. Tony Beltran remains on the injury report with a knee injury but is getting close to returning to the national team.
Sam Johnson remains injured with a high quad strain and will be unavailable for selection against Tigres. While Nedum Onuoha is back home in England sorting out Visa issues and is expected to return shortly after the Wednesday night match.
Given that RSL will have three matches within seven days, Mike Petke will submit changes to the starting XI against Tigres UANL. Although, after the 1-1 draw with Minnesota United, Petke was quoted saying that “this organization has made it very clear to me that we are taking the Leagues Cup very seriously”. A strong lineup is expected, despite the three games in a week.
Welcome to the @LeaguesCup
📝➡️ https://t.co/kq4dvz7Os3 pic.twitter.com/RchxQro6q9
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 23, 2019
The match against Tigres UANL will kickoff at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
RSL Podcasts
sports.ksl.com, in collaboration with Real Salt Lake, has launched a new podcast, The RSL Lion’s Den. It is the official Real Salt Lake podcast for all club news and updates. KSL Sports analysts Spencer Warne, along with RSL PR director Matt Gashck and I break down the games and discuss important club matters. Download wherever you find your podcasts!
