The two teams wear the same colors but that is where the similarity stops. One huge difference between L.D. Alajuelense and Atlanta United is game experience. Tuesday's opening CONCACAF Champions League match in Costa Rica will be new manager Gabriel Heinze's opener with Atlanta United, while L.D. Alajuelense (LDA) sits atop the Liga de Fútbol de Primera División after sixteen games. Then we have LDA's high powered attack up against what will be a very young Atlanta backline - a very tough task for any team.
Don't miss MLSNow's Bryce Leslie with his detailed analysis of Tuesday night's game. I will provide a 5,000 foot view with my take on who Heinze puts out to start the 2021 CCL campaign:
Brad Guzan obviously starts in goal and will possibly be Tuesday night's captain.
The backline, as mentioned above, is very young with Miles Robinson and George Campbell in the center flanked by Brooks Lennon and George Bello.
The #6, or defensive midfielder will be newcomer Santiago Sosa along with Jurgen Damm and Marcelino Moreno. Update: my bad as MM received a red card in the second leg of last year's CCL match with Club America.....so he should be suspended for Tuesday night? If so, plug in Jake Mulraney on the left side.
On top, I am hoping, depending on the field conditions, that Josef Martinez gets the start along with Ezequiel Barco and Erik Lopez.
I have only seen bits and pieces of Atlanta United's preseason matches so this starting eleven is simply a WAG. No matter, it should be an interesting 90 minutes. justmytake.net
Comments