:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53350297/DSCF6926.0.jpeg)
The CONCACAF Champions league returns this Tuesday when Pachuca visit San Jose, Costa Rica to face Saprissa in the first leg of their quarterfinal matchup.
Pachuca is all in after resting many of their starters this weekend against Monterrey, with Saprissa doing the game in their respective match against Liberia. The game is all the talk in San Jose and has overshadowed the CONCACAF U-20 tournament that is being played now in the same city.
Pachuca is coming into the tournament undefeated and with three wins out of four games. Their only draw was in the tough away game, a 4-4 thriller in Honduras against Olimpia. While in the current season they had a great start away to Leon, the team has slowed down and has been a mid-table team in Liga MX. That said, they are the favorites to win this series but not necessarily this game.
Saprissa arrive to this game on fifth place in their league. They just barely got out of their group after edging the Portland Timbers by just one point in their group. Still, Saprissa is a tough stadium and this will be a tough test for Pachuca. The city is hyped for the game, something that never happens in Mexico for a CCL game. While they might not be as talented as Pachuca, they will look to replicate the situation that made them the last non-Mexican team to win this competition.
Historically, Pachuca and Saprissa played the last final before it became the CONCACAF Champions League. Pachuca drew at Saprissa Stadium (1-1) and then won the return leg 2-1.
Pachuca are favored to go through, but it will be a tough series, especially in Saprissa, where los Tuzos will likely be hoping to hold on and finish off the series in Hidalgo.
Date: Tuesday, February 21
Time: 6:00 PM Pacific, 8:00 PM Central, 9:00 PM Eastern
Venue: Estadio Ricardo Saprissa
Television: United States - Univision Deportes Network
Streaming: fuboTV (Free trial + monthly subscription), Facebook
Listings via LiveSoccerTV.com.
Check out the latest video from KICK TV on Liga MX clubs in the CCL