CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Tigres-León, Union-LAFC: Concacaf Champions League previews
Just four sides remain in contention for the Concacaf Champions League as the first legs of the semi-final games get underway this week.
We’ve reached the semi final stage of the Concacaf Champions League with the competition set to deliver a MLS vs Liga MX final as Tigres meet Leon and Philadelphia Union meet LAFC in a repeat of the 2022 MLS Cup final.
The first game, scheduled for Tuesday is the all Mexican affair after León eliminated the competition’s surprise package Violette FC (Haiti) and Tigres did the same with Honduran side Motagua. The first leg will be played at the University Stadium on Tuesday, 25 April with the return leg scheduled for Nou Camp Stadium next Wednesday, 3 May.
Both teams are assured of a place in the Liga MX Clausura repechaje/wild card round and with just one game of the regular season remaining, both sides lie sixth and seventh respectively in the standings and will also face one another in matchday 17 of the season next Sunday marking three head-to-head meetings in just seven days.
Union out to avenge MLS Cup loss
Philadelphia Union will be desperate to get revenge over LAFC after their dramatic MLS Cup penalty shootout defeat in November of last year but it’s the Black and Gold who start the tie as favourites. The Union are enjoying an indifferent start to the 2023 MLS campaign as they lie in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and have lost four of their nine opening games.
LAFC remain unbeaten in the current MLS season, lie third in the West and have a game in hand over St. Loius and Seattle who top the table. The teams meet on Wednesday, 26 April at Subaru Park, and the second leg will be held at BMO Stadium on Tuesday, 2 May.
2020 CCL final repeat on the cards?
The pandemic impacted the 2020 competition and forced Concacaf to move the Champions League semi-final (single games only, rather than the traditional home/away format) matches to be played at an Orlando ‘bubble’. That year LAFC eliminated Club América in the semi-final stage and faced Tigres UANL in the final only to fall 2-1.
LAFC favourites to lift CCL
As things stand, LAFC are tipped by many as firm favourites to secure, what would be their first Concacaf Champions League title. Under coach Steve Cherundolo, the team are highly consistent and have a constant threat in front of the target with Denis Bouanga enjoying a rich vein of form netting 12 goals in all competitions so far this season and partnering well with Mexican veteran striker Carlos Vela who has bagged six goals in the 2023 campaign.