Uruguayan striker Gabriel Fernández’s Cruz Azul will host Vancouver FC on Thursday with the air in its favor to advance to the round of 16 of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, of which it is the champion.
At the Cuauhtémoc Stadium in Puebla, the Azules will be out to finish the job they started last Wednesday when they defeated the Canadians 3-0, with goals from José Paredela, Amaury Morales and Agustín Palavecino.
Cruz Azul arrives in great momentum
In a good moment as a team, third in the Mexican Clausura tournament standings, Argentine coach Nicolás Larcamón’s Cruz Azul has a squad with players of a higher level.
In the first leg, they overcame an opponent with little capacity to respond.
Larcamón will take the match seriously, but will be careful to ensure that his main players do not accumulate fatigue.
Because next Sunday the team will have a difficult commitment in Liga MX against Tigres UANL, second in the standings.
Defends its history in Concacaf
The Blues will take the field to finish the job
QuéOnnda.com
In the 2025 final, Cruz Azul added its seventh Concacaf triumph, defeating MLS’s Vancouver Whitecaps in the final.
The Mexican team is the top winner in the competition, equal with América, but with more victories, 70.
After losing, Vancouver coach Martin Nash was humble.
He acknowledged the level of the Mexicans and hinted that the second leg will be difficult and it would be good if they score a goal.
“Hopefully we can put pressure on them and be precise,” he said.
The winner of the series will face Mexico’s Monterrey, which has won five titles since 2011, in the round of 16.
Probable lineups
Cruz Azul: Emmanuel Ochoa; Gonzalo Piovi, Erik Lira, Willer Ditta; Jeremy Márquez, Amaury Morales, Carlos Rodríguez, Agustín Palavecino, Rodolfo Rotondi, José Paradela; Gabriel Fernández.
Coach: Nicolás Larcamón.
Vancouver FC: Callum Irving; Tyler Crawford, Tom Field, Matteo Campagna, Paris Gee; Elage Bah, Damiano Pecile, Marcello Polisi, Morey Doner; Mohamed Amissi, Luis Tooney.
Coach: Martin Nasch.
Referee: To be designated.
Stadium: Cuauhtémoc, in Puebla, central Mexico.
Time: 19:00 local time (01:00 GMT Friday) / 20:00 hours (ET) / 17:00 hours (PT).
Streaming: FOX One / partner platforms carrying coverage of the CONCACAF Champions Cup
With information from EFE
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com
