Leagues Cup | Group Stage: Match #2
New England Revolution vs. Atlético de San Luis
Wednesday, July 26 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass.
Watch: Watch FREE on Apple TV
English Talent: Callum Williams, Calen Carr
Spanish Talent: Bruno Vain, Andres Agulla
Local Radio: 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA (Portuguese)
AS THINGS STAND
Following Saturday’s goalless draw at the New York Red Bulls, the New England Revolution have one point in the East 4 group table, but missed the chance to claim a bonus point with a 4-2 defeat in the resulting penalty shootout, which lifted the Red Bulls to the top of the standings.
Atlético de San Luis are yet to feature in the tournament, visiting the Revs on Wednesday night in their first fixture. Victory in 90 minutes for Bruce Arena’s side at Gillette Stadium would clinch qualification to the knockout stages, while a shootout win would mean the Revs would be forced to await the result of Sunday’s game between San Luis and the Red Bulls to discover their fate.
Defeat for New England against San Luis - in 90 minutes or in the shootout - would see the Revolution eliminated from the tournament. Only the top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32 with group winners to face a runner-up from another group in the same region between August 2-4.
LEAGUES CUP EAST 4 MATCHES
MD1: New York Red Bulls 0-0 (4-2 on penalties) New England Revolution
MD2: New England Revolution vs. Atlético de San Luis – Wednesday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium
MD3: New York Red Bulls vs. Atlético de San Luis – Sunday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution | Major League Soccer
2nd in Eastern Conference (12-4-7, 43 pts.)
Last Result | 0-0 draw at New York Red Bulls (4-2 loss in penalties)
The Revolution welcome Liga MX side San Luis to Foxborough on Wednesday night needing a positive result in 90 minutes to ensure progression to the Leagues Cup knockout stages. A second successive clean sheet for Arena’s men earned a point on the board on Matchday One at Red Bull Arena, but despite a superb Djordje Petrović save in the penalty shootout from Elias Manoel’s opening spot-kick, it was the Red Bulls who collected the bonus point in New Jersey with DeJuan Jones striking the post and Giacomo Vrioni unable to convert, and John Tolkin tucking away the decisive effort for the hosts.
Unbeaten at home so far in 2023 with an excellent 9-0-3 record in league play, the Revs will look to make home advantage count in a bid to help book their place in the Round of 32. Prior to Saturday’s trip to Harrison, New England had tallied back-to-back home victories over Atlanta United and D.C. United at Gillette Stadium (with six goals scored and just one conceded), and will also take plenty of encouragement from a notable home record of 8-1-1 against Liga MX opposition in all competitions – most recently a 3-0 win over Pumas UNAM in the 2022 Concacaf Champions League.
Atlético de San Luis | Liga MX
6th in Liga MX’s Apertura Tournament (1-1-1, 4 pts.)
Last Result | 4-1 win vs. Queretaro
Wednesday’s clash will see Atlético make their tournament debut in the Leagues Cup, having sat out Matchday One with a bye weekend whilst New England and Red Bulls locked horns. The Liga MX side are only three games into their domestic 2023/24 campaign, recording a 1-1-1 tally from their opening fixtures in the Apertura Tournament, which runs through the first half of the Mexican season. Drawing 1-1 in their first game against Monterrey, Los Atléticos then fell to a 3-1 reverse at the hands of Chivas before storming to their first win of the new year: a 4-1 comeback triumph over Queretaro on July 15 last time out.
Four of their six goals so far in 2023 have come via defenders – Unai Bilbao (2), Julio César Domínguez Juárez and Ricardo Chávez. San Luis currently sit sixth in their league standings, and will look to kick off their Leagues Cup campaign with a positive result before concluding their group stage journey with a trip to Red Bull Arena on Sunday. Should a penalty shootout be required at Gillette Stadium, the Liga MX side will have had plenty of practice, converting a penalty in each of their domestic games this term, though Angel Zaldivar Caviedes also missed one against Monterrey.
HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
This fixture marks the first meeting between the two sides, though the Revolution will look to extend an impressive record against Liga MX teams with a victory which would secure passage to the knockout stage. With a 7-1-1 tally in the North American SuperLiga (a tournament New England won in 2008), and a triumph in the Concacaf Champions League, the Revs head into this encounter with a fine 8-2-1 streak against Mexican sides in official competition.
Overall Record vs. Liga MX: 8-2-1
Home Record vs. Liga MX: 8-1-1
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution midfielder Noel Buck
Having made a welcome return to action last weekend after missing five games through injury, Buck will hope to pick up where he left off. An Arlington, Mass., native, the 18-year-old Homegrown Player has started 14 of his 16 appearances this term with three goal involvements to his name, notching a goal and assist in his previous three matches before he was sidelined. Despite not featuring before Saturday’s trip to the Red Bulls since June’s 3-1 home win against Orlando City SC (where he teed up Gustavo Bou in for his first MLS assist), he still leads the club’s 2023 standings for successful tackles made with 29 – eight more than fellow midfielder Matt Polster. Back in the starting XI, he clocked 63 minutes of action in New Jersey, and will be pushing to feature again, as he looks to regain his form and fitness quickly.
Atlético de San Luis forward Leonardo Bonatini
A January recruit following his departure from Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bonatini netted a goal on his debut for San Luis, and has gone on to find the net six times (also crafting two assists) in 22 appearances this calendar year. He scored in three successive games as San Luis reached the quarterfinals of last season’s Clausura campaign, and returned to the matchday squad with a cameo appearance against Chivas before clocking a 55-minute showing against Queretaro, after missing the 2023/24 season opener against Monterrey. Though reports suggest the forward has been nursing a toe injury for the past few days, he is pushing to play, and with European experience under his belt, will be one to watch, should he feature.
STATUS REPORT
New England Revolution
This week should see Tomás Chancalay arrive in Boston with New England’s new recruit having received international clearance to confirm his loan move from Argentine side Racing Club, although Wednesday’s game will arrive too soon for the forward’s involvement. Meanwhile, Matt Polster could return to the matchday squad after missing Saturday’s trip to the Red Bulls. Nacho Gil and Tommy McNamara are continuing to build their fitness on the training pitch after lengthy layoffs, but Christian Makoun has been sidelined for the last seven games through injury. Dylan Borrero (ACL), Henry Kessler (hamstring) and Maciel (Achilles) remain unavailable.
Atlético de San Luis
It has been a summer of change for San Luis with plenty of new faces, including eight new signings and a new head coach in Gustavo Leal. Founded in 2013 and promoted to Liga MX in 2019, Los Atléticos ended their Clausura campaign last term in 12th place as the division’s joint-lowest scorers with 16. Only three games into their new campaign, they are not expected to be at full capacity but have named a strong traveling roster. At the time of writing, injury report information is not yet available.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena on facing Liga MX opposition:
“Like playing against any club team in another country in another league, their styles are different. The conditions in Mexico are such that the games aren't as high energy as they are in MLS. The Mexican teams are very technical, and difficult to play against.”
On the mentality of the team:
“We're ready to play. We look forward to the game, and we know three points would put us in a good position, so we'll get out there, and get after it, and try to win the game in regulation.”
New England Revolution forward Bobby Wood on Leagues Cup:
“I actually find it very cool. Usually, not all teams get an opportunity to play each other, so it’s great to build the sport, especially with the 2026 World Cup coming up. It’s great for both leagues to have a very highly competitive competition, and to continue growing the sport. For me, it’s amazing, I love it.”
On facing Liga MX opposition:
“It’s always fun playing any type of team from all over – it's always like different football within each country. It’s going to be very feisty, they're going to want to play a lot – and we just have to show them physically that that this is our home field and that we're the home team, and just take it to them. We can't be scared to lose the game – we have to go out and want to win, and it's as simple as that.
“It's more of a grind than actual playing – we’ve got to be there mentally, physically; we’ve got to be very aware that it's a one-game type of game. We just have to be mentally prepared that they're going to come and be very feisty. We're going to have to go out there and kind of feel what the situation is like, for sure – but we have to play our game, and that's the most important. Of course, there's going to be a little bit of a question mark for how they play, what type of game they're playing – but as long as we focus on us, we’ve shown that we're a very good team, and that's the most important.”
On the keys to stifling Atlético de San Luis’ threat on the counter-attack:
“Taking care of the ball is always a big importance in the game, and for us to lose silly balls and get silly goals off of that, that's for sure dangerous, so we have to take care of the ball – we can't be losing simple balls. We have to be prepared for that and take it to them, for sure – stretch the field as much as possible, and be patient.”
On the importance of progression to also avoid the prospect of a month without games:
“We want to continue in this tournament, so we’re not thinking about the vacation or whatever it is, the break after this. We want to go in, and win it – we want to win, and that's all we're focused on. We're going to take it as seriously as possible, and that's all we're focused on.”
