The America vs Alajuelense CONCACAF Champions League match will take place this Tuesday, October 22, 2013 (5:00 PM Pacific) at the Estadio Azteca. This is the last match of Group 4, and both teams are tied with 6 points- the tiebreaker is decided by the results between each other. Given that Alajuelense won the first match against America in Costa Rica, Club America will be forced to defeat Alajuelense by any margin if it wants to move on to the quarterfinals.
Apart from the do-or-die importance of this match for America, it is also the last official game Miguel Herrera will lead America before he gets “loaned out” to El Tri in preparation for the intercontinental playoff against New Zealand. Also, as expected, 10 Club America players will join Herrera in the Mexican National Team, so this match against Alajuelense will be a big going away party for everyone (all Club America players will still play the rest of the Liga MX matches, but they will also train mid-week with El Tri).
In its previous Concachampions matches, Club America had relied on its “b-squad”, and it performed fairly well, earning 6 points in three matches, its only loss at Alajuelense. Now, however, America has no other choice than to win at the Estadio Azteca and secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
Unlike its previous Concachampions matches, this time Club America is expected to use their key players, in an effort to seal the win. Alajuelense is also expected to bring their best players, looking to pull off a historic Aztecazo that would guarantee them a playoff spot; the Costa Rican team only needs to draw in order to win the group.
America vs Alajuelense Prediction
Club America will be playing at home, with its best players, with a motivated squad and coach, they have everything in their favor to win. Alajuelense will not go down easy, but I fail to see them earning any points at the Azteca, they did ,after all, lose against a weak Sporting SM in Panama. In the end, Herrera’s players will come out with the victory, and the ticket to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal. I predict the America vs Alajuelense match will end in a 3-0 victory for the Mexico City based team.
America vs Alajuelense Television
The America vs Alajuelense match will be televised this Tuesday, October 22, 2013 on Galavision at 5:00 PM Pacific.
