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When ex-FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski joined MLS with the Chicago Fire, it appeared he would form one of the league's most electrifying attacking duos alongside Golden Boot frontrunner Hugo Cuypers.
Yet, barely two months after his debut, the pair are instead poised to face off in an uncomfortable single-game Leagues Cup quarterfinal showdown between Aug. 25–27. This is a stark contrast to the warmly publicized welcome Cuypers extended when he announced he'd switch to the No. 99 shirt to hand Lewandowski the No. 9.
Lewandowski and Cuypers never had the chance to share the field in Chicago. The two were scheduled to play together on July 16 against Lewandowski's former club teammate Thomas Müller and the Vancouver Whitecaps, but the fixture was pushed back to October due to wildfire smoke. By the time the next game arrived, Cuypers had finalized an up to $8 million move to Liga MX club CF Monterrey, clearing the way for Lewandowski to claim the starting striker role.
In many respects, Lewandowski effectively took Cuypers's position—despite the Belgian forward having established himself as MLS's top scorer. With the two now in separate leagues, the chances of them ever crossing paths seemed slim until this moment.
Leagues Cup Brings Pair Together
During Phase One of the Leagues Cup—the tournament featuring 18 MLS clubs and all 18 sides from Mexico's top division—Monterrey placed fourth in the Liga MX section with two victories and one defeat, with Cuypers contributing three goals. Chicago, meanwhile, saw Lewandowski net once across their three wins, finishing top of the MLS standings and setting up a quarterfinal meeting between the two.
"Of course," head coach Gregg Berhalter said following Chicago's final group match, a 2–1 victory over Liga MX heavyweights Cruz Azul. "Of course it ended up this way. We gave them a bit of a hand, so they'll arrive here in high spirits. But it's a strong side. Monterrey's a strong side. It's going to be a great contest."
The Leagues Cup doesn't carry the same prestige as many other competitions that both Monterrey and Chicago participate in. Nevertheless, it offers Concacaf Champions Cup spots for the two finalists and the third-place team, along with financial prizes.
Robert. Lewandowski. 😤@ChicagoFire surge to 3-1 over Santos in stoppage time!
📺 Apple TV: https://t.co/LZEuJ9PmIJ pic.twitter.com/eyAoV5Q0iM
Now, it also hands Chicago an opportunity to demonstrate that they made the correct call by moving on from Cuypers in favor of the Polish icon.
"You couldn't script a better story than this," Fire and USMNT goalkeeper Chris Brady told MenInRed97. "We know Hugo. We're well acquainted with him, and a lot of our preparation will center on him because I know he's in red-hot form right now. It'll be a great match. I think the key for us is going out and approaching it the same way we approached this game: must-win at home. We've got to bring the intensity from the first minute."
The winner of the quarterfinal will advance to face either Club América or the Columbus Crew and be guaranteed a spot in either the final or the third-place match, with dates still to be confirmed.
Why Cuypers Left Chicago
While there were early hopes that Cuypers and Lewandowski might compete for a starting berth or share the pitch in a two-striker setup, the club and Cuypers collaborated to facilitate his move to a new team.
The player, in the prime of his career at 29, was eager to maximize both his performances and earnings, and found that opportunity with Rayados, as the club sought to fill the attacking void created by Germán Berterame's departure to Inter Miami.
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"Everyone was aware of the situation in Chicago with Robert coming in," Cuypers said during a Leagues Cup Apple TV broadcast. "There was a scenario where everything could have worked out, and we might have played alongside each other.
"But there was also a scenario where he would have been the undisputed first choice in the short or medium term. I didn't want to take that gamble. I wasn't going to move just for the sake of moving, and when Monterrey came calling, it felt like the perfect fit."
There's little question, however, that the matchup could carry some awkwardness. Will Chicago pay tribute to their former star—and if so, how will he respond? It was always conceivable that Chicago could face Monterrey, but few anticipated it happening this quickly, with the Fire positioned to end a 20-year trophy drought.