In an all-Mexican CONCACAF Champions League semi-final, Cruz Azul and Monterrey will square off at Estadio Azteca on Thursday.The two sides met at the Estadio BBVA in the first-leg tie last month. Monterrey emerged as the winners in that fixture thanks to Maximiliano Meza's ninth-minute goal.The two Liga MX rivals are separated by just one point in the league standings and have endured identical results in their last five games; a loss in their latest outing, three back-to-back draws and one win.CRUZ AZUL@CruzAzulA pensar en el partido del jueves por la noche. 🚂8:03 AM · Sep 12, 20212486180A pensar en el partido del jueves por la noche. 🚂 https://t.co/WgupWcGHZMCruz Azul vs Monterrey Head-to-HeadSince 2003, the two sides have met each other 48 times across all competitions. The home team have the upper hand in this fixture and have 20 wins to their name. Rayados have 13 wins while the spoils have been shared 15 times between the two sides.When it comes to their record in the CONCACAF Champions League, the visiting side are unbeaten against the hosts. They beat Cruz Azul 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals of the 2011-12 campaign as they went on to lift the title that term.They last met in Liga MX action in August at Thursday's venue. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Alfonso Alvarado scoring an injury-time equalizer for the visitors.Cruz Azul form guide (Liga MX): L-D-D-D-WMonterrey form guide (Liga MX): L-D-D-D-WCruz Azul vs Monterrey Team NewsCruz AzulLuis Ángel Mendoza, Alexis Peña and Jesús Corona continue to be sidelined for the La Máquina.Injured: Luis Ángel Mendoza, Alexis Peña, Jesús CoronaDoubtful: NoneSuspended: NoneMonterrey Erick Aguirre has been ruled out with a thigh injury he picked up with the Mexican national team at the Tokyo Olympics. There is yet to be a fixed return date for the young full-back.Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Vincent Janssen is expected to undergo surgery for pubalgia and has been ruled out for at least a month. Rogelio Funes Mori is expected to start here, having been rested for the weekend's game against Atlas.Rayados@Rayados🛡️| Llegamos a CDMX. 🤠👊🏼#RayadosEnConcacaf | #SCCL2021#ArribaElMonterrey 🇫🇮6:10 AM · Sep 15, 202162136🛡️| Llegamos a CDMX. 🤠👊🏼#RayadosEnConcacaf | #SCCL2021#ArribaElMonterrey 🇫🇮 https://t.co/W8vpFucGdfInjured: Erick Aguirre, Vincent JanssenDoubtful: NoneSuspended: NoneCruz Azul vs Monterrey Predicted XICruz Azul Predicted XI (4-3-3): Sebastian Jurado; Ignacio Rivero, Julio Dominguez, Pablo Aguilar, Juan Escobar; Rafael Baca, Jonathan Rodriguez, Yoshimar Yotun; Walter Montoya, Bryan Angulo, Santiago GimenezMonterrey Predicted XI (4-3-3): Luis Cardenas; Jesus Gallardo, Sebastian Vegas, John Medina, Edson Gutierrez, César Montes; Matias Kranevitter, Arturo Gonzalez; Rogelio Funes, Joel Campbell, Maximiliano MezaCruz Azul vs Monterrey PredictionBoth clubs should be able to welcome back some of their star players who were rested after a lengthy international break. We expect a tight game ending in a draw, with both sides getting on the scoresheet.Prediction: Cruz Azul 1-1 Monterrey