PACHUCA, Mexico – The Montreal Impact will play its first competitive match of the 2015 campaign with the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal series in Mexico against Pachuca this Tuesday at 10pm ET (TVA Sports, Sportsnet World and ONE, CJAD 800).
The Impact will face a number of challenges playing in Mexico: the altitude (7,000 feet), the hostile environment and the fact that team is still in preseason mode.
“We have to play smart. They are seven games in their season while we will be playing our first match,” added head coach Frank Klopas. “Tactically we have to be good with the ball, use our strengths and take away their strengths. We know we are going to make mistake and we will be under pressure but we have to stick together as a team. If we stay compact and organized we will be fine.”
“We got here two weeks ago so we have acclimatized to the altitude and the air,” said forward Dominic Oduro. “However, we are still trying to find our level as a team. The game against Pachuca will be a good test for us to prove how good we are.”
Pachuca is in midseason form (3-3-1), but sits in 10th spot in the Primera Division, two out of playoff spot. However, the former CONCACAF Champions League winners (2009-2010) has won their last two games, including this past Saturday over Leon (2-1). Pachuca will then play on Friday versus Liga MX leaders Tijuana to contend with before heading to Montreal for the second leg of the aggregate goal series next Tuesday.
Midfielder Erick Gabriel Gutiérrez Galaviz leads Pachuca in scoring with two goals, while strikers Ariel Nahuelpán and Darío Cvitanich have just returned to the full squad following injuries.
IMFC on the other hand, has a completely revamped roster, with many new additions to the squad for 2015, but can count on leadership from a number of those newbies. Defender Laurent Ciman (Standard de Liège) and midfielders Nigel Reo-Coker (West Ham United, Aston Villa & Bolton) and Marco Donadel (Fiorentina) have all worn the captain’s armband over their careers for important clubs.
“I think this will be my first game in these conditions,” said midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker. “But I’ve been fortunate to play against Mexican opposition in pre-season games so I know what to expect. They are very good players and good in tight areas. They move the ball very well. We will have to battle and take advantage of our physical presence.”
Despite all the new faces, the Impact can count on Evan Bush in goal, who has been very good in Champions League play over his career, going 5-2-1 with four shutouts in eight starts since 2013.
The bleu-blanc-noir qualified for the quarterfinals by finishing tops in their group, going undefeated (3-0-1) versus the New York Red Bulls and C.D. FAS from El Salvador, and will attempt at becoming the first Canadian club and only the third MLS club to find victory on Mexican soil (2-26-8).
The return leg of this aggregate goal series is set for the following Tuesday, March 3, at 8pm at Olympic Stadium. (Tickets: marquonslhistoire.com).
