Guadalajara vs. Toronto FC | Concacaf Champions League Preview

Dylan Butler

CD Guadalajara vs. Toronto FC
2018 Concacaf Champions League — Final, Leg 2
Estadio Akron — Guadalajara
April 25 - 9:30 pm ET
WATCH: TSN2 in Canada | UDN, univisiondeportes.com, go90.com

Toronto FC have an uphill climb to capture a first-ever Concacaf Champions League title and book a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup in December after dropping the opening leg to CD Guadalajara, 2-1, at BMO Field last week.

Rodolfo Pizarro and Alan Pulido scored the vital away goals for Chivas, who are seeking a first continental championship since 1962, while Jonathan Osorio struck for TFC, who are attempting to end a nine-year run of Mexican CCL champions.

CD Guadalajara

Chivas is feeling confident heading back to Estadio Akron having secured two away goals in the opening leg. In addition, starting goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota, starting center back Jair Pereira and left back Edwin Hernandez all return from suspension and Matias Almeyda’s squad hasn’t conceded at home during the competition.

But not all is right in Guadalajara. ESPN Mexico reported for a second time in less than a month, Chivas players complained about the club’s directors following a meeting at the training center in Guadalajara on Saturday. The players had previously complained about the lack of bonuses paid out, lack of communication with the directors and travel logistics.

On the field, in the 16th round of the Clausura, Chivas utilized a heavily-rotated squad in a 1-0 loss to rival Atlas, 1-0, in the Clasico Tapatio at Estadio Jalisco.

Suspended: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Jesus Sanchez (right knee); M - Alan Cervantes (left knee), D - Hedgardo Marin (right thigh)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-1-1, right to left)
GK: Rodolfo Cota — Carlos Cisneros, Jair Pereira, Oswaldo Alanis, Edwin Hernandez — Isaac Brizuela, Michael Perez, Orbelin Pineda, Rodolfo Pizarro — Alan Pulido — Jose de Jesus Godinez

Toronto FC

Toronto FC have gotten the necessary results in the second leg in Mexico in the two previous rounds, securing a quarterfinal series victory over Tigres UANL with two away goals and then taking an early lead against Club America at Estadio Azteca to secure safe passage into the final.

But to become the first MLS team to lift the CCL trophy, they’ll need to score at least two away goals and win on Mexican soil for the first time.

With the first team already in Guadalajara, Vanney’s reserve side fell to the Houston Dynamo, 5-1, at BBVA Compass Stadium Saturday afternoon. Mitchell Taintor, who was signed on loan from Sacramento Republic FC in the USL a day earlier, scored the lone goal for TFC.

Suspended: None
Injury Report: OUT: D - Nick Hagglund (hamstring); QUESTIONABLE: M - Victor Vazquez (back spasms); PROBABLE: D - Chris Mavinga (abdominal discomfort), D - Gregory van der Wiel (Achilles), F - Jozy Altidore (foot), D - Justin Morrow (calf strain)

Projected Starting XI
(3-5-2, right to left)
GK: Alex Bono — Gregory van der Wiel, Drew Moor, Chris Mavinga — Auro, Marky Delgado, Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Justin Morrow — Jozy Altidore, Sebastian Giovinco

All-Time Series

Chivas de Guadalajara defeated Toronto FC, 2-1, in the opening leg of the Concacaf Champions League final. It was the first all-time meeting between the teams.
CONCACAF Champions League history: Toronto - 4 appearances (2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13) 14 wins, 10 losses, 9 ties (46 goals) … Chivas - Guadalajara - 1 appearance (2012/13) 7 wins, 2 losses, 2 ties (19 goals) …