Sounders Cautious Despite Favorable Matchup Against Puebla in Leagues Cup Quarterfinal

The Seattle Sounders, fresh off a perfect Phase One showing in Leagues Cup, are preparing to host a seemingly vulnerable Club Puebla in a quarterfinal clash at Lumen Field on Wednesday night. While the Sounders enter as heavy favorites, having won all three of their group stage matches and leading all Leagues Cup teams in goals scored, they are not taking their opponent lightly.

The narrative surrounding this match is one of contrasting forms. The Sounders have been an offensive juggernaut, scoring 11 goals with a +9 goal differential in the tournament. This momentum, however, was slightly dampened by a recent 1-0 loss to Minnesota United, which snapped a 10-match unbeaten streak across all competitions. Head coach Brian Schmetzer and his squad are looking to put that result behind them and get back to their winning ways.

"We understand the opportunity that's there for us," Schmetzer said during a press conference. "That's the messaging to the group: We cannot take this game lightly. We must play up to our potential because they're a dangerous team. And we want to make sure that we make the most of this opportunity to get us into a semifinal."

Puebla, meanwhile, is navigating a period of turmoil. The LIGA MX side recently parted ways with head coach Pablo Guede following back-to-back league losses. Interim manager Martín Bravo will now take the helm, a factor Schmetzer believes will make his opponent even more unpredictable and motivated.

"The new-coach bump – that's true," Schmetzer noted. "They will be excited to play... Their results in LIGA MX haven't been great, so this is an opportunity for them. It makes them a dangerous team."

Despite their domestic struggles, Puebla has found success in the Leagues Cup. They secured a spot in the knockout round by defeating New York City FC and CF Montréal, showcasing a different level of performance on the international stage.

Sounders forward Danny Musovski echoed his coach's sentiment, recognizing the threat posed by a team with nothing to lose. "Although they are struggling in the league right now, they're a dangerous team with a new coach," Musovski said. "They're probably going to put a lot of effort to try and make a run in this tournament, but I feel confident in our guys. We're also in a good run of form as well, and we're at home, so I'm definitely favoring us to win the game. But we're definitely not taking them lightly."

As the Sounders seek to reclaim their dominant form and secure a spot in the semifinals, they will need to be prepared for a motivated Puebla side looking to salvage its season. The winner of this highly anticipated quarterfinal will advance to face the winner of the match between the LA Galaxy and CF Pachuca.