A fantastic round of quarterfinals action brings us back from a two-month layoff.
The Concacaf Champions League kicks off 2011 with four quarterfinal ties that feature three pairings from the same country. Columbus and Real Salt Lake will see one American team go through to the semis, while Toluca, Monterrey, Cruz Azul and Santos face each other in two groupings.
Rounding out the eight team fold is Saprissa and Olimpia, which face each other in a Central American classic that will determine either Costa Rican or Honduran supremacy towards the semifinals. CCL coverage is all here on LiveSoccer TV!
In Columbus, a veritable pre-season match with enormous implications takes place when the Crew face off against Real Salt Lake in the all-American quarterfinal series featuring the last two MLS teams in the competition.
It'll be a Latino showdown for each team's stars up front, as Peruvian Andres Mendoza will be looking to pierce RSL's net, and Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio - second in the competition so far in total goals scored - will attempt to do the same to the Crew's back line.
Columbus will look to get a valuable lead at home despite having a smattering of injuries to their starting eleven. Real Salt Lake report a full squad, but once again, it'll be interesting to see what the two-month layoff and lack of league form will do to either team.
Jair Marrufo will be in charge of officiating the first leg of this tie.
In Mexico City, another glorified league match will take place as Cruz Azul face the new-look Santos.
Following a controversial turn of events that saw manager Ruben Omar Romano fired from the green-and-whites, Diego Cocca takes center stage for the visiting Santos as they look to surprise two-time CCL runners-up Cruz Azul in their own stadium.
It'll be a matter of whose formidable attack breaks through first, as Cruz Azul feature a smart Argentinian duo that terrorize the local league in Emanuel Villa and Christian Giménez. Also featuring is CCL goalscoring leader Javier Orozco.
On the visitor's side, Oribe Peralta and Carlos Darwin Quintero will take hold of the Saints' attack, as regular starter Christian Benitez is out due to injury.
With less than 24 hours on the job, Diego Cocca will face his first match as Santos manager -- an international affair with huge implications.
It'll be a battle of old friends as Toluca's Sergio Lugo and Monterrey's Victor Manuel Vucetich manage opposing teams in search of a CCL semifinal berth.
The first leg, held in Toluca, will feature the last two Mexican champions as Aperutra 2010 kings Monterrey face Bicentenario 2010 monarchs Toluca.
Sinha, the Diablos' playmaker, will be out due to injury, and thus will shift the team's formation from a 4-3-1-2 to a more standard 4-4-2. The match will also be a family affair for the Ayovis, as Jaime (Toluca) and Walter (Monterrey) will divide their kin as to whom to root for.
In the local league, Toluca were handed their first loss of the season last weekend at home against Necaxa, which curtails their status as nearly impossible to beat at La Bombonera.
Finally, Costa Rica will be host to the final match of the first leg in the CCL quarterfinals, as Deportivo Saprissa take on Honduras' pride and joy in Deportivo Olimpia.
Again, keen fans will observe several differences in either team's starting eleven, as the off-season over the winter break meant ins and outs for both teams in their respective leagues.
Mexican manager Juan Manuel Alvarez will look to take Saprissa back into the international fold and possibly qualify them to the FIFA World Club Cup Championship for the second time in the decade.
Honduras' lone representative in the tournament will rely on Roger Rojas and Ramiro Bruschi for striking power, as they lead the team in the tournament with three and two goals, respectively. The all-Central America tie rounds out a rare four-pair quarterfinal grouping that sees all but one matchup feature teams from the same country.
Rounding out the eight team fold is Saprissa and Olimpia, which face each other in a Central American classic that will determine either Costa Rican or Honduran supremacy towards the semifinals. CCL coverage is all here on LiveSoccer TV!
In Columbus, a veritable pre-season match with enormous implications takes place when the Crew face off against Real Salt Lake in the all-American quarterfinal series featuring the last two MLS teams in the competition.
It'll be a Latino showdown for each team's stars up front, as Peruvian Andres Mendoza will be looking to pierce RSL's net, and Costa Rican striker Alvaro Saborio - second in the competition so far in total goals scored - will attempt to do the same to the Crew's back line.
Columbus will look to get a valuable lead at home despite having a smattering of injuries to their starting eleven. Real Salt Lake report a full squad, but once again, it'll be interesting to see what the two-month layoff and lack of league form will do to either team.
Jair Marrufo will be in charge of officiating the first leg of this tie.
In Mexico City, another glorified league match will take place as Cruz Azul face the new-look Santos.
Following a controversial turn of events that saw manager Ruben Omar Romano fired from the green-and-whites, Diego Cocca takes center stage for the visiting Santos as they look to surprise two-time CCL runners-up Cruz Azul in their own stadium.
It'll be a matter of whose formidable attack breaks through first, as Cruz Azul feature a smart Argentinian duo that terrorize the local league in Emanuel Villa and Christian Giménez. Also featuring is CCL goalscoring leader Javier Orozco.
On the visitor's side, Oribe Peralta and Carlos Darwin Quintero will take hold of the Saints' attack, as regular starter Christian Benitez is out due to injury.
With less than 24 hours on the job, Diego Cocca will face his first match as Santos manager -- an international affair with huge implications.
It'll be a battle of old friends as Toluca's Sergio Lugo and Monterrey's Victor Manuel Vucetich manage opposing teams in search of a CCL semifinal berth.
The first leg, held in Toluca, will feature the last two Mexican champions as Aperutra 2010 kings Monterrey face Bicentenario 2010 monarchs Toluca.
Sinha, the Diablos' playmaker, will be out due to injury, and thus will shift the team's formation from a 4-3-1-2 to a more standard 4-4-2. The match will also be a family affair for the Ayovis, as Jaime (Toluca) and Walter (Monterrey) will divide their kin as to whom to root for.
In the local league, Toluca were handed their first loss of the season last weekend at home against Necaxa, which curtails their status as nearly impossible to beat at La Bombonera.
Finally, Costa Rica will be host to the final match of the first leg in the CCL quarterfinals, as Deportivo Saprissa take on Honduras' pride and joy in Deportivo Olimpia.
Again, keen fans will observe several differences in either team's starting eleven, as the off-season over the winter break meant ins and outs for both teams in their respective leagues.
Mexican manager Juan Manuel Alvarez will look to take Saprissa back into the international fold and possibly qualify them to the FIFA World Club Cup Championship for the second time in the decade.
Honduras' lone representative in the tournament will rely on Roger Rojas and Ramiro Bruschi for striking power, as they lead the team in the tournament with three and two goals, respectively. The all-Central America tie rounds out a rare four-pair quarterfinal grouping that sees all but one matchup feature teams from the same country.
