MIAMI, Florida – A pair of talent-rich sides will tangle on Tuesday night as Liga Deportiva Alajuelense of Costa Rica face Atlanta United of the United States in the first leg of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Round of 16 at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Alajuelense have already enjoyed a successful 2021 by winning the final two rounds of the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf League to claim their first ever SCL title, including a 3-2 defeat of long-time rivals Deportivo Saprissa 3-2 in the Final.
The Ticos have been just as impressive in domestic play in leading the Primera Division with 31 goals scored and just nine conceded.
La Liga boast some of the most dangerous playmakers in the Central American region, including Marcel Hernandez, who has 11 goals this season and all-time SCL leading scorer Johan Venegas, who has netted seven goals since joining from Saprissa over the winter break.
Then there is veteran winger Bryan Ruiz, who at age 35 is still able to create headaches for opposing defenses.
The Costa Rican club’s aggressive style could cause problems against an Atlanta United team that will be playing their first match since last December’s 2020 SCCL.
The MLS club bulked up its roster as well over the winter with the arrivals of FW Lisandro Lopez and MF Santiago Sosa, and no doubt new Head Coach Gabriel Heinze will be keen to start with a positive result.
Helping the Argentine boss will be star FW Josef Martinez, who is Atlanta United’s all-time leading scorer in the SCCL with five goals.
In their history, Atlanta United have done well against Central American competition, with a 2W-1D-1L record, while Alajuelense are 3W-0D-3L against teams from MLS.
