Cruz Azul have a much shorter turnaround following their huge win over Club America in Sunday night's Clasico Joven. Monterrey have had more time to rest following last Friday night's 1-0 road win over Necaxa. The two sides do enter Wednesday’s semifinal on a bit of an upswing, as both are coming off wins in league play over the past weekend. Monterrey are second in Group 1 behind Tigres, while Cruz Azul are tied with Morelia for second in Group 3, behind first place Pumas UNAM. While neither Monterrey nor Cruz Azul currently hold the top spot of their respective groups in the Primera standings, both clubs have a firm grasp on a Liguilla playoff spot. Suazo has been back training with the team this week, and may make a return to the field on Wednesday night, albeit most likely coming off the bench. During the past month the Rayados have also been forced to weather the loss of star striker Humberto Suazo, who has been out of commission recovering from a shoulder injury. Monterrey have had a bit of a struggle (at least by their usual high standards), suffering four losses already this year – a number which matches their loss total from the previous two regular seasons combined. In league play so far this season both teams have been solid, if unspectacular. Both times, though, they came away empty-handed losing out to Atlante in 2009, and falling in dramatic fashion to Pachuca in a last second stoppage-time goal one year ago. The perennial bridesmaids, Cruz Azul have reached the CCL final in each of the last two years. La Maquina have repeatedly come up short on the championship stage in the Mexican Primera, finishing as league runners-up in three of the last six seasons, a trend that has duplicated itself in CCL play. Cruz Azul, in spite of this recent success, are still in many ways known more for their failures. Monterrey and Cruz Azul have been the two most consistent Mexican clubs in recent seasons, both establishing themselves as permanent fixtures near the top of the standings, with Monterrey claiming two of the last three league titles. The second of the two CONCACAF Champions League semifinals (this one also known as the regional final of the Mexico division) matches up two teams with loads of recent success in the Primera Division.
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