Friction between the two clubs and fan bases was expected after the first leg at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which Monterrey had won 2-1. Supporters of the club known as Rayados ("The Striped-Ones") -- took over Miami's stadium as the MLS had failed to sell out. At full-time, Messi and head coach Gerardo Martino approached the referee to complain about certain calls, which in turn prompted Rayados' staff to retaliate.
"Both [Messi and Martino] were out of line," Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sanchez said in a leaked voice note. "Something that if we had done, they would've sent us to hell." A source explained to ESPN that Messi, who sat out the first game with a hamstring injury, angrily approached the Monterrey locker room.
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