CONCACAF Champions League 2020 Breakdown
The CONCACAF Champions League match-ups were announced for the Round of 16 and this might be the first season that I am ALL IN! I think that I am full Andrew Wiebe mode right now for these CCL games. I think that I am also just desperately missing some MLS action… I took a dive into some research with these qualified teams and wanted to break it down for you reading this because let’s be honest, if you are only watching MLS, you don’t know some of the opposition.
Atlanta United vs FC Montagua
Atlanta United
League: MLS
2019 Season Result: Finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference & Lost in the MLS Cup Playoffs Semi-finals
Head Coach: Frank de Boer
FC Montagua
League: Liga Nacional de Futbol Profesional de Honduras
2019/2020 Season Result: Finished 3rd in the Honduran Apertura & finished 2nd in the Honduran Apertura postseason
Head Coach: Diego Vasquez
If you guys know anything about MLS (which I’m sure if you’re reading this you do) then you know about Atlanta United and their success. Last season, Atlanta United continued to win. The U.S. Open Cup was won by de Boer and de Boys as well as the Campeones Cup over Club America. Atlanta have proven that they can compete with MLS and Liga MX competition. With more of the off-season to continue to add roster pieces, Atlanta United still look loaded in a starting XI. An experienced keeper and talented defense lead by Brad Guzan and Miles Robinson give Atlanta United a terrific shout to make a deep run in this year’s CCL. Moving up the field to the super talented midfield that has Pity Martinez and Ezequiel Barco, as well as the sure fire goal scoring threat of Josef Martinez. This killer squad has to go up against the second best team in Honduras.
FC Montagua have a pretty decent defense that will need to show up if they want to have a shot at beating Atlanta United. The two key pieces to me are left-back Emilio Izaguirre and center-back Juan Pablo Montes. Izaguirre was brought in from Celtic in the SPL and now holds down that left side of the defense which will be preoccupied with the likes of Pity Martinez, Ezequiel Barco, and Brooks Lennon. But probably the defender that will have more to handle is Montes who will be looking to slow down Josef. Montes is a long time Montes leader with over 200 appearances and Liga MX experience. Now do I trust this defense vs the various attackers of Atlanta United? No… and do I trust this team to score in which they have a lot of trouble doing? No… so what I’m saying is, Atlanta fans you should be safely moving on in this matchup.
Prediction: Atlanta United wins and moves on
Club America vs Comunicaciones FC
Club America
League: Liga MX
2019/2020 Season Result: Finished 6th in Liga MX Apertura & currently in the Liga MX playoff final vs Monterrey
Head Coach: Miguel Herrera
Comunicaciones FC
League: Liga Nacional de Guatemala
2019/2020 Season Result: Lost in the Apertura final vs Guastatoya & lost in the Clausura quarter-final vs Guastatoya
Head Coach: Willy Coito Olivera
This one seems easy right?!?! Well! It is… Club America is much better than their opposition here. America have the advantage at seemingly ever spot. But my main focus right now is looking at the difference in coaching between these sides. With America you have Herrera who has managed everywhere in Mexico, including the national team for a stint between 2013 and 2015. Herrera has a history of winning that includes; the Liga MX Clausura, the Liga MX Apertura, the Copa MX Clausura, the Campeon de Campeones, and the Gold Cup. Olivera has won some awards in his time as manager as well, but to me doesn’t truly compare to Liga MX competition.
Player wise Club America have some STUDS! Defensively, I love Jorge Sanchez the left-back who has seemingly been on the rise since 2017. He is now a Mexican national team capped player as well and to me is a better defensive option. Another strong Mexican in this line-up is striker Henry Martin. Martin knows how to score and this season has 8 goals to his name. With players like Renato Ibarra and Guido Rodriguez sitting behind him and setting him up, Club America will pounce on this Comunicaciones defense. The biggest standouts to me on this Comunicaciones team are veterans Jose Calderon and Agustin Herrera. Calderon a strong 34 keeper who has played well in recent performances. Herrera is a 34 year old Mexican who has the best chances of scoring as he is their veteran presence up top.
Prediction: Club America wins and moves on
Cruz Azul vs Portmore United
Cruz Azul
League: Liga MX
2019/2020 Season Result: Finished 12th in the Liga MX Apertura
Head Coach: Robert Siboldi
Portmore United
League: National Premier League
2019 Season Result: Won the 2019 Jamaican 1st division
Head Coach: Shavar Thomas
If there is a chance at an upset of any of the matchups that I’ve listed so far, it’s this one. Now… I did not say that it will happen but of the first three, this is the best shot. I personally think that Cruz Azul is a quietly good team, not great but good. Defensively I think they are strong along the backline with Adrian Aldrete, Pablo Aguilar, Igor Lichnovsky, and Julio Dominguez. Sitting above them in the more defensive midfield of Rafael Baca and Yoshi Yotun, Cruz Azul will be tough to break down. But how can Portmore break that defense down? The three headed monster of Javon East, Ricardo Morris, and Maalique Foster. East and Foster are two players under 25 that I think could have a future one day in MLS or USL. East has scored two goals and recorded two assists in Portmore’s recent games as well as Foster adding two goals himself. Morris could be a force as well in the midfield and can score on his day too. But the reasons that I still give Cruz Azul the edge in this one are Jonathan Rodriguez and Milton Caraglio. This season in Liga MX Rodriguez and Caraglio have combines for 12 goals and 3 assists. They know how to tear down a defense, especially a weaker side like Portmore.
Prediction: Cruz Azul wins (maybe not that easily) and moves on
LAFC vs Club Leon
LAFC
League: MLS
2019 Season Results: Finished 1st in MLS Western Conference & lost in MLS Cup Semi-finals to Seattle Sounders
Head Coach: Bob Bradley
Club Leon
League: Liga MX
2019/2020 Season Results: Finished 2nd in Liga MX Apertura & lost to Morelia in the playoffs quarter-finals
Head Coach: Ignacio Ambriz
*** Landon Donovan’s other team
If you’re going to sit down and watch any aggregate from the CCL round of 16, this is it. The Supporters’ Shield winner in MLS going up against a top performing team in Liga MX. The LAFC defense is the thing that scares me here. Diego Palacios looks like the destined starting left-back, Tristian Blackmon probably played himself into the starting right-back role, and the Zimmerman/Segura pairing was amazing last season… but they are young. Young backlines are error prone and going up against a team like Leon who can score like they do, you can’t make many mistakes. Leon has three players who scored a lot last season; Angel Mena (8 goals), Jose Macias (9 goals), and Ismael Sosa (8 goals), they are going to look to feast on the young outside backs for LAFC. My only saving grace to them is that I trust Bob Bradley and how he is going to design this team to play against a strong attack. Also, LAFC aren’t short of a strong attack themselves! Mexican international and MLS MVP Carlitos Vela will look to continue to step up for his side along with sensational youngsters Diego Rossi and Brian Rodriguez. If those three can run with the ball at their feet, and have Diomande as a late game sub? LAFC might just well do this thing! But defenders like William Tesillo, Miguel Herrera, and Fernando Navarro for Leon are capable to play decent games themselves, but can they stop some really top top talent?
Prediction: LAFC wins (by an ass hair) and move on
Tigres UANL vs Alianza FC
Tigres UANL
League: Liga MX
2019/2020 Season Results: Finished 3rd in the Liga MX Apertura & lost to Club America in the playoff quarter-finals
Head Coach: Ricardo Ferretti
Alianza FC
League: Primera Division de Futbol de El Salvador
2019/2020 Season Results: Finished 1st in the Apertura & currently in the playoff semi-final vs Sonsonate
Head Coach: Wilson Guiterrez
I won’t make this one too long, Tigres are tough… with a center-back pairing of Carlos Salcedo and Hugo Ayala, not many in Mexico are better. Then adding Guido Pizzaro and Lucas Zelarayan in the midfield, there is a great balance there between defensive and offensive focus. Finally, up top you have Enner Valencia and Andre Pierre Gignac who are continually threats in these CONCACAF competitions. Tigres will have to handle (and probably quite easily) Alianza who do have a few threats. I am looking mainly at midfielder Marvin Monterroza and striker Raul Penaranda. Monterroza is an attacking force in the midfield that will be a lot of fun for the casual fan to watch. He will get his shots at setting up Penaranda who can score when necessary. Though I don’t see many scoring chances against this Tigres squad, if something does happen for Alianza, it will for sure be one of those two.
Prediction: Tigres wins and moves on
NYCFC vs San Carlos
NYCFC
League: MLS
2019 Season Results: Finished 1st in MLS Eastern Conference & lost in MLS Cup Playoffs quater-finals vs Toronto FC
Head Coach: … none
AD San Carlos
League: Liga FPD
2019/2020 Season Results: Finished 3rd in Apertura, lost in playoff semi-final vs Alajuelenese & finished 1st in Clausura, won the playoffs
Head Coach: Luis Marin
To me, this one is not as simple as it looks. NYCFC has one of the top rosters (and especially starting XIs) in MLS going up against a team that isnt… well… good. NYCFC has an athletic keeper, excellent attacking fullbacks, a strong defense, a top holding mid, a creative attacker, and guys who can finish. What else can be missing? Well, a head coach would be nice. Now, Im SURE that NYCFC will get a head coach by this all comes around but my concern is when? When will a head coach come in, get his style and familiarity into the locker room? I think a potential upset could be in place if that head coach comes in too late. Now if San Carlos are going to upset and break down this NYCFC team, it is going to come from centerback Rudy Dawson and forwards Marcos Mena/Rachid Chirino. Dawson is an experienced centerback that has been around Costa Rica and even in NASL for a bit. He will need to be the anchor of that holds the likes of Heber, Mitrita, and Maxi Moralez. But to get goals past Chanot and Callens, goal scorers like Marcos Mena and Rachid Chirino will need to continue to score like they have in recent form.
Prediction: NYCFC wins and moves on
Seattle Sounders vs CD Olimpia
Seattle Sounders
League: MLS
2019 Season Results: Finished 2nd in MLS Western Conference & won MLS Cup Playoffs
Head Coach: Brian Schmetzer
CD Olimpia
League: Liga Nacional de Honduras
2019/2020 Season Results: Finished 1st in Apertura & won the playoffs
Head Coach: Pedro Troglio
Now this one is another that is laid out to be exactly what it looks like, a Sounders win. Yes, Olimpia are the top dogs in Honduras, but the likes of striker Jorge Benruche, midfielder Matias Garrido, and defender Ever Alvarado can do to slow down the Sounders and Schmetzer. This seems like the type of aggregate that Schmetzer will have the quality of Raul Ruidiaz, Jordan Morris, Nico Lodiero, and Stefan Frei thrive! The Sounders have that great balance of being physical on defense, but also being creative enough to break down opponents.
Predictions: Seattle Sounders win & move on
Montreal Impact vs Deportivo Saprissa
Montreal Impact
League: MLS
2019 Season Result: Finished 9th in MLS Eastern Conference & won the Canadian Championship
Head Coach: Thierry Henry
Deportivo Saprissa
League: Liga FPD
2019/2020 Season Results: Finished 1st in Apertura, lost to Herediano in playoff semi-final & finished 2nd in Clausura, lost to San Carlos in playoff final
Head Coach: Walter Centeno
Heeeeeres the most major upset I think we can see in this first round. The Impact sure have a stellar attack; Borjan up top, Romell Quioto and Lapalanien on the wings, and of course the legend of Nacho Piatti! But… what about that defense? Well, as of now, there is not much there. And if Henry and others don’t get their act together, and improve from 2019, then the Impact will have a tough opponent to handle. More specifically on that Saprissa attack, Johan Venegas and Manfred Ugalde. Venegas is familiar to MLS and this past season for Saprissa saw him score 14 goals. Total his goals with striker Ugalde who had 8 of them, and the Impact could be in trouble. With a strong core in the midfield of Michael Barrantes, Jonathan Martinez, and Marvin Angulo, the Impact could really lose control of a game (especially on the road) pretty easily.
Prediction: Deportivo Saprissa wins & moves on
Now, if everything goes as I predicted it (because why wouldn’t it…) then we would move on to the quater-finals with these matchups:
-Atlanta United vs Club America
-Cruz Azul vs LAFC
-Tigres UANL vs NYCFC
-Seattle Sounders vs Deportivo Saprissa
My predictions for the quarter-finals:
-Atlanta United win over Club America
-LAFC win over Cruz Azul
-Tigres UANL win over NYCFC
-Seattle Sounders win over Deportivo Saprissa
This would make the semi-final match-ups look like this:
-Atlanta United vs LAFC
-Tigres UANL vs Seattle Sounders
My predictions for the semi-finals:
-Atlanta United win over LAFC
-Tigres UANL win over the Seattle Sounders
This would make the finals look like this:
-Atlanta United vs Tigres UANL
My prediction for the finals:
-Atlanta United win over Tigres UANL
I may have a bit of a MLS bias with that LAFC pick of Cruz Azul which would call for a tougher matchups for Atlanta in the semi-finals, but I trust Carlitos and Bob. I think this could be the year that MLS could have a winner in the most important CONCACAF club tournament.
