EUROPA LEAGUE
Why isn’t Edson Álvarez playing for West Ham in the Europa League?
The UEFA Conference League holders return to European action on Thursday but will be without the Mexican international against TSC Bačka Topola.
West Ham United welcome Serbian side TSC Bačka Topola in their UEFA Europa League opener, but will be without a key member of their squad.
Mexican midfielder Edson Álvarez is unable to make his European debut for the Hammers due to a suspension.
Álvarez was dismissed for two yellow cards in last season’s Round-of-32 tie while playing for former team Ajax. The Dutch side were eliminated in that game, meaning that Álvarez must now serve his one-match suspension at the start of this year’s European campaign.
A similar fate was suffered by his compatriot Santiago Giménez, who missed Feyenoord’s Champions League opener against Celtic earlier this week. Giménez was given a two-game ban so he will also miss his team’s next European fixture against Atlético Madrid.
Which Mexicans are playing in the Champions League or Europa League?
The Champions League began this week but it was a disappointing start for the Mexican contingent in Europe’s elite club competition.
Giménez did not feature for Feyenoord, while Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano came off the bench for PSV Eindhoven in his side’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Arsenal.
Julian Araujo’s parent club Barcelona recorded an impressive 5-0 victory over Royal Antwerp, but the 22-year-old right-back is currently on loan at Las Palmas.
In the Europa League, El Tri stalwart Andrés Guardado is at Real Betis and the Mexican duo of Orbelín Pineda and Rodolfo Pizarro could feature for AEK Athens. However none of them have seen much action for their clubs so far this season so are unlikely to feature from the start.
Real Betis take on Scottish side Rangers on Thursday, while AEK Athens have a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion of the Premier League.