Can Toluca Overcome LAFC’s Dominance? Key Players Missing in 2026 Champions Cup Clash

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[MyDaily = Reporter Kim Jong-guk] Toluca appears likely to face unavoidable gaps in its lineup ahead of its CONCACAF Champions Cup rematch with LAFC.

LAFC will travel to Toluca on May 7 for the second leg of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal. LAFC earned a 2-1 win at home on April 30 in the first leg, giving the club the edge heading into the trip to Mexico. Son Heung-min set up both the opener and the winner in that match, driving LAFC’s victory. Forward Buanga, who missed the first leg due to suspension, is preparing to return for the second leg.

Mexican outlet ADInoticias and others reported on May 2 that Toluca must produce a turnaround to keep its final hopes alive after the defeat. The outlets said Toluca still has a chance to advance but warned the team’s away performance lacked quality and could have resulted in a larger defeat. They criticized errors and a lack of clarity and organization in Toluca’s attack, saying the club must significantly improve against LAFC to reach the final.

Those reports also warned Toluca could be without forward Vega and defender Gallardo for the home leg, as both were called up to the Mexican national team ahead of the match — a development that would create clear holes in Toluca’s lineup.

The Mexican Football Federation announced on April 29 a 12-player call-up from Liga MX for the national team’s training camp ahead of upcoming CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. Toluca’s Vega and Gallardo were included. Gallardo played the full first-leg away match at LAFC as a fullback, while Vega was subbed on around the 80th minute and logged roughly 10 minutes.

Gallardo, who is expected to miss the rematch with LAFC, has 118 caps for Mexico since his debut in 2016. He played a key role in Mexico’s victory over South Korea at the 2018 World Cup and featured in Mexico’s last three A internationals against South Korea. Toluca now prepares to face an LAFC side led in attack by Son while coping with an unavoidable gap in its starting defense.

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