Messi to miss Monterrey match after father's death

Family tragedy overshadows Las Garzas' Leagues Cup hopes

While writing this article, I learned that Lionel Messi's father, Jorge Messi, died early Saturday; according to reports, Lionel is traveling to Argentina to be with his family.

Rest in peace, Jorge Messi. God bring your family peace during this time of grieving.

Who will lead the attack tonight against Monterrey? Luis Suárez, who has been in tremendous form over the past several weeks, is suspended from Leagues Cup play because of a spitting incident in last year's final. Tadeo Allende, Germán Berterame and Mateo Silvetti are recovering from injuries.

Suárez (10 goals, 6 assists in MLS action) and Berterame (7 and 5) are Miami's second and third leading scorers, behind only Messi (12 goals and 8 assists in league play). Silvetti (3g, 4a) is fifth. So, of the team's top five scorers, only one can reasonably expected to play tonight, Rodrigo De Paul (4g, 8a). First-year midfielder Preston Plambeck, 20, scored his first MLS goal, a game-winner, in the 87th minute of Miami's 3-2 MLS victory against the Chicago Fire on July 22. First-year striker Dániel Pintér, 19, has yet to score for Las Garzas, but came close in the Herons' 4-2 Leagues Cup win Wednesday over Atlético San Luis, having a neat finish disallowed when video review revealed him to be slightly offside. Who else is available?

The Herons will expect a lot from Telasco Segovia against Monterrey. The Venezuelan has just two goals but has assisted eight scores playing primarily as an attacking midfielder, supporting the front three of Suárez, Berterame and Messi.

Segovia could start at left wing -- Suárez' spot under interim coach Guillermo Hoyos. He's shown confidence blasting the ball from range, but he's most effective drifting into the middle to work quick give-and-gos with the forwards. Playing Segovia on the left with the freedom to roam centrally would make room for the left wing back -- Noah Allen or Sergio Reguilón -- to push up wide and spray crosses into the Rayados' box. The Herons acquired Reguilón in the preseason to step into the role vacated by Jordi Alba's retirement, but Allen arguably has been the better fit for Hoyos, with a goal and three assists in the last two matches.

I expect Pintér to be the striker, with Plambeck likely starting on the right wing. Hoyos could choose to use De Paul higher in the attack and Casemiro, who earned his reputation as a defensive stopper in midfield, can produce in the attack as well.

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