Liga MX side Toluca will go head-to-head against Major League Soccer outfit Houston Dynamo in Saturday's Leagues Cup round-of-32 encounter at the Shell Energy Stadium.
The teams rounded off their group-stage campaigns with respective victories last time out and now continue their quest for continental cup glory.
Match preview
© Reuters
Needing a win to keep their cup journey alive, Houston Dynamo rose to the occasion emphatically with a comprehensive 3-0 demolition of Real Salt Lake in Tuesday's contest between the teams.
That was a third win in four matches for Ben Olsen's men, who also recorded a much-welcomed clean sheet off the back of five goals conceded across their two involvements prior.
El Naranja were one of only eight teams to take part in the maiden edition of the Leagues Cup back in 2019 but are yet to really make their mark in the tournament five years down the line.
Houston Dynamo suffered a round-of-16 exit last time out, losing 2-1 to Charlotte, and they will be keen to enjoy a deeper run into the competition this time around.
Should Saturday's hosts manage to see off their visitors and claim back to back home wins for the first time since March, a meeting against one of Colorado Rapids or Juarez in the next round awaits.
© Imago
Toluca got the better of Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City courtesy of 3-1 and 2-1 wins to finish top of Group 4 with maximum points from their two group outings; one of just five sides to achieve this feat.
Consequently, Renato Paiva's men are now unbeaten in all six matches across all competitions this term and have come out on top in four of the last five either side of a 1-1 stalemate against Cruz Azul.
Since drawing a blank against Guadalajara Chivas in their season-opener on July 7, Toluca have turned on the style in front of goal having scored 12 times in their subsequent five matches.
Los Diablos Rojos will look to continue their attacking proficiency in this weekend's battle for a place in the Leagues Cup last 16, where they were knocked out in their debut appearance at the competition last time out following a 3-2 defeat to Minnesota United.
Toluca's away record of late does not make for good reading for Saturday's visitors, who have managed just one win from their most recent five matches on the road ahead of the trip to Texas.
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- L
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Nelson Quinones is still unavailable for Houston Dynamo due to a knee injury which he picked up while on international duty with the Colombia Under-23s back in February.
Adalberto Carrasquilla missed the hosts' last outing through injury, making his availability for Saturday's game currently hanging in the balance.
Latif Blessing was the biggest beneficiary of Carrasquilla's absence last time out, and the 27-year-old is on course to be handed a second consecutive start.
Midfielder Jesus Angulo is certainly one to keep an eye on having found the back of the net in back to back matches for Toluca since his return to the starting lineup.
Wanderson will miss a fourth game on the bounce for the visitors but is drawing increasingly closer to making his comeback from injury.
Toluca possible starting lineup:
Volpi; Gallardo, Pereira, Mendez, Caprizo; Ruiz, Arteaga; Angulo, Vega, Chonteco; Morales
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Tarbell; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Escobar; Herrera, Artur; Blessing, Bassi, Aliyu; Ponce
We say: Toluca 1-3 Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo were slow to kickstart their cup journey but will know that any further underwhelming displays from here on out could lead to an exit from the competition.
We expect them to up the ante in Saturday's contest and claim a relatively routine win at the end of the 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.