The Seattle Sounders host Liga MX’s Club Necaxa tonight, the first time they’ve faced one another in a competitive match. The Sounders have an all-time record of 7-3-1 in home matches across all competitions against Liga MX opponents, including five straight wins. The last time the Sounders lost at home to a Liga MX opponent was in 2013, when they fell 1-0 to Santos Laguna.

Necaxa comes into this match having lost their Leagues Cup opener 1-0 to Minnesota United on Tuesday. In that match, Necaxa fired off 30 shots and forced Minnesota’s Dayne St. Claire into 14 saves. In Liga MX play prior to Leagues Cup, Necaxa had a record of 1-2-1.

Leading the line for Necaxa is Colombian Diber Cambindo, who has two goals in the first four Liga MX matches this year after scoring eight goals in 14 games in the previous tournament. Necaxa’s top playmaker is Argentine Jose Paradela, who has two assists in four matches this year and had five goals and three assists in the previous tournament.

Scenarios

The top two teams in each group advance. The Sounders will secure one of those spots in West Group 6 as long as they don’t lose by four goals or more thanks to their 2-0 win over Minnesota United last week.
The Sounders’ group is paired against West Group 2 in the Round of 32, where the LA Galaxy (3 points) currently lead the San Jose Earthquakes (2 points) and Chivas (1 point). The Galaxy host Chivas tonight.
If the Sounders advance, they’d host if matched against the Galaxy or Earthquakes and would travel if matched against Chivas.