MIAMI, Florida – It will be a battle of Central American giants when Comunicaciones of Guatemala host Alianza of El Salvador in the first leg of the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf League Round of 16 on Wednesday at the Estadio Doroteo Guamuch Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Each club has achieved the honor of being Concacaf club champion; Comunicaciones winning the Concacaf Champions Cup in 1978, while Alianza accomplished that feat in 1967.
Now, both sides are looking to add another piece of Concacaf hardware to their trophy cabinet in the SCL, however only one will move on from this Round of 16 tie.
Comunicaciones reached this phase of the tournament thanks to a 4-1 aggregate win over Once Deportivo of El Salvador in the Preliminary Round.
El Salvador international Alexander Larin was one of the players to chip in with a goal and now he will be looking to do the same thing against his former club.
Another weapon for the Chapines is FW Junior Lacayo, who also had a goal for Comunicaciones versus Once Deportivo.
As for Alianza, they are making their fourth appearance in the SCL after claiming the 2020 Apertura and finishing the 2020-21 Salvadoran season as the champions with the best aggregate record.
Alianza will boast many of the familiar faces that have dotted previous SCL teams, including MF maestro Marvin Monterroza and the always dangerous Rodolfo Zelaya up top at striker.
Two teams with top Concacaf pedigrees should make for a compelling night of football.