View the Leon 1-1 Iquique highlights here.
The Leon vs Iquique match will be the first encounter between these two teams, as they face-off in the preliminary round of the Copa Libertadores 2013 for one ticket to Group 4. The first leg of this two-game series will take place at the Nou Camp in Leon, on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 8:45 PM Eastern.
The winner of this series will be known next week, when the second match is played at Iquique’s stadium in Chile. The winner will be decided by aggregate score, and away goals if the aggregate score is tied. Whoever wins this Leon vs Iquique match will join Velez Sarsfield (Argentina), Emelec (Ecuador) and Peñarol (Uruguay) in group 4 of the Copa Libertadores 2013 group stage.
Leon qualified to the preliminary stage of the Copa Libertadores by ending the Apertura 2012 regular season in 3rd place. Even though they had an outstanding run to the semifinals last season, this season they have had a slow start, earning just 1 point in 3 games. Leon added two key players: Rafa Marquez and Nery Castillo, neither has added much value to the team yet.
If Leon wants to make it through to the group stage of the Copa Libertadores, it must recapture what it lost in the December break, speed, explosiveness, grit, heart- it’s been lacking all of that this season. Matosas is a coach that can bring that out of his players, he did it all season long. I expect he will do it again in the Copa Libertadores.
Iquique qualified to the Copa Libertadores by ending the Chilean season in second place. They are still in the middle of their preseason, and could thus be a little rusty. However, unlike their Mexican counterparts, the Copa Libertadores is the maximum goal for any South American squad, it brings the ultimate glory. The Chilean squad will be motivated, and will bring all it has to the table- including Chilean national team players Misael Davila and Manuel Villalobos.
Leon vs Iquique Copa Libertadores Prediction
The Leon vs Iquique match will be a sight to behold, if you think the Nou Camp is rowdy during a Liga MX match, just wait and see how the Leon fans will be during a Copa Libertadores match. Matosas knows that his team has not been playing well, and will use his motivational skills and support of the home crowd to lead his team to a victory. If Leon does not win at home, their Copa Libertadores season will be very short. Iquique will come with a defensive mentality, a draw is a huge result for them. I believe that the Leon vs Iquique match will end in a favorable result for the Mexican squad, which will take a slim 2-1 lead to Chile.
Leon vs Iquique Copa Libertadores Television
The Leon vs Iquique match will be televised on Fox Deportes this Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 8:45 PM Eastern.
Possible Lineups
Leon: Cristian Martinez, Hernan Dario Burbano, Rafael Marquez, Edwin Hernandez, Ignacio Gonzalez, Juan Carlos Rojas, Luis Montes, Eisner Loboa, Juan Vázquez, Matías Britos and Sebastián Maz. Coach: Gustavo Matosas.
Iquique: Rodrigo Naranjo, Jorge Moraga, Cristian Grabinski, Rodrigo Brito, Mauricio Zenteno, Alvaro Delgado, Fernando Manriquez, Misael Davila, Victor Hugo Sarabia, Cristian Bogado and Manuel Villalobos. Coach: Cristian Díaz.
View the Leon 1-1 Iquique highlights here.
