Club América celebrates their goal during a match at Liga MX. (Photo : Reuters)
Club América will open its 2015-2016 CONCACAF Champions League stint by hosting a match against Liga Nacional runner-up CD Motagua at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Wednesday, August 5.
Los Azulcremas, who is the favorite to top Group E of the tournament, had been struggling as of late with only a win to show in its last six matches, which are all friendlies. Going into serious competition may help Ignacio Ambríz's squad to take their game to the next level.
Their last match was a 4-3 loss on penalties to Portuguese champions SL Benfica in the International Champions Cup, via SkySports. The game was also held at their home field of Azteca, but the Mexicans could not find the net in regulation time to end it at 0-0.
Meanwhile, the powerhouse Honduran club had also been struggling in their own league, settling to a goalless draw against defending Clausura winners CD Olimpia in their last match, as per Soccerway. Prior to that, Ciclón Azul fell to Olimpia, 2-1, four days before.
In their last five games, Motagua had only won once, a 3-0 victory against CD Victoria back in May.
Prediction: For both teams called "Eagles", Las Águilas of Mexico will come away with a 3-1 win over the Aguilas of Honduras. Ambríz's men had more experience playing against world class quality teams than Diego Vásquez's wards and that will spell the difference.
Club América starting lineup (4-1-3-2 formation): González; Burón, Alvarado, Pimentel, Mares; Rivera; Andrade, Güemez, Arroyo; Benedetto, Quintero
CD Motagua starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Portigliatti; Izaguirre, Montes, Crisanto, Figueroa; Reyna, Discua, Mayorquin, Elvir; Gómez, Castillo
