For the fifth time within the competitors’s historical past, an MLS facet has reached the ultimate of the CONCACAF Champions League. The Seattle Sounders hope to be the primary ones to emerge victorious.

The Sounders look to be the primary MLS workforce to ever win the CONCACAF Champions League trophy as they host Pumas UNAM. 

If it may occur, now’s the time. The Sounders have confirmed one of many strongest and most resilient MLS groups to start out the season, and Pumas is a shock finalist given its eleventh place end within the Liga MX Apertura match and its present twelfth place standing within the present Liga MX Clausura (Pumas certified to the Champions League as runner-up of the 2020 Apertura.)

Nonetheless, given the competitors’s historical past, there is no such thing as a room for complacency. Whereas the Sounders have put collectively a strong string of outcomes each domestically and overseas, this is not a workforce that is blowing out the opposition on any entrance, and it’ll take a robust efficiency throughout two legs to make historical past. This must be an thrilling and entertaining two-leg matchup throughout quite a lot of aspects.

MORE: Pumas vs. Sounders finest bets and professional picks

Pumas vs Seattle face to face

This matchup would be the first-ever assembly between these two golf equipment, which have by no means earlier than confronted off.

Seattle has had combined success towards Mexican golf equipment, with seven wins, three attracts, and 9 losses all-time. The one membership the Sounders have a profitable report towards is Tigres UANL, with two wins to only one loss. They’ve a number of wins towards Santos Laguna, but in addition a number of losses.

Pumas, in the meantime, has additionally had combined success towards MLS golf equipment, with 4 wins, a draw, and 4 losses. The Mexican facet has by no means received a number of video games towards any MLS facet, only one win apiece towards New England, Dallas, Houston, and NYCFC.

MORE: Full historical past of MLS vs. Liga MX in CONCACAF Champions League play

MLS vs. Liga MX in CONCACAF Champions League finals

For the reason that inception of the revamped CONCACAF Champions League in 2008-09, each single match has been received by a Liga MX membership. As you have in all probability discovered, which means no MLS facet has ever received the competitors in its present format.

Solely 4 earlier MLS groups have even made it to any of the 13 Champions League finals, and so they have been all defeated by a Mexican membership on the remaining hurdle.

* = The 2020 Tigres-LAFC remaining was a single-match remaining after the remaining quarterfinals, semifinals and remaining have been held in Orlando as a consequence of scheduling impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pumas vs. Seattle: How they bought right here

Clearly, given the competitors’s historical past, Seattle has by no means received the CONCACAF Champions League. Nonetheless, there can be a primary both means, as Pumas UNAM has additionally by no means received the Champions League in its present format, though it has lifted the continental title thrice beforehand, all within the 1980’s.

Seattle Sounders

Pumas UNAM

* = Pumas superior through penalty shootout

MORE: Full overview of CONCACAF Champions League semifinal motion

Pumas vs Seattle workforce overviews

The Sounders misplaced their first two MLS league matches of the season — 1-0 losses to Nashville SC and Actual Salt Lake — and so they unexpectedly misplaced their final two (1-0 to Miami and 4-3 to San Jose). These 4 setbacks have left them in eleventh place within the Western Convention, 5 factors exterior the playoff zone and 12 factors out of first place with a sport in hand.

However the Sounders have been particularly stout on the street, selecting up leads to a number of places. The workforce has performed seven street video games up to now between MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play, drawing 4 and shedding two. Whereas that does not precisely encourage a parade, selecting up attracts in locations like Honduras and Mexico, and on a cross-country journey at NYCFC is undoubtedly a constructive.

Having Jordan Morris again to his finest has been an enormous boon for the membership, and the link-up play between the Roldan brothers down the best flank has been spectacular. Raul Ruidiaz seems lastly wholesome as effectively, a lift within the assault that had stalled with Will Bruin sustaining the beginning spot. Nicolas Lodeiro’s return has pushed Albert Rusnak right into a No. 8 position that he has surprisingly excelled in up to now.

However there are additionally defensive difficulties coming into this matchup. Whereas the again line hasn’t precisely been leaky by any means, it additionally hasn’t stored a clear sheet as soon as in seven MLS matches, and has additionally conceded in every of its final three continental video games.

Neither first-choice heart again seems within the high 20 of WhoScored’s defender rankings, with Xavier Arreaga coming in at 31 and Jackson Ragen ranked 37. Solely three gamers common a minimum of two tackles per sport, and Ragen does not do a lot aside from clear the ball at an unbelievable price. Lastly, goalkeeper Stefan Frei is a membership legend, however he hasn’t began the season terribly effectively both. There are defensive questions for supervisor Brian Schmetzer to reply.

Seattle Sounders projected lineup (4-2-3-1): Frei (GK) — Rowe, Arreaga, Ragen, A. Roldan — Rusnak, Joao Paulo — Morris, Lodeiro, C. Roldan — Ruidiaz.

Pumas is the epitome an overachieving workforce. Within the final seasons as a consequence of monetary points, the membership’s administration has not made any high-profile signings or notably boosted the squad. Nonetheless, workforce boss, Andres Lillini, has made magic with he has.

The Argentine has managed to mesh the Universitarios homegrown expertise with unheralded international signings. Lillini has introduced out the very best of journeymen gamers like Meritao, Diogo and Rogerio.

Pumas at the moment sits within the twelfth spot of desk with 19 factors (5W-7L-4D), inside the qualification zone for the Liguilla playoffs. The highest 12 groups advance to the postseason. Nonetheless, it has been clear that Lillini’s focus is the CONCACAF Champions League, because the workforce has a starvation for a title — they final claimed silverware within the 2011 Clausura season. Since shedding the 2020 Mexican league Apertura remaining, this continental competitors has been Pumas’ finest guess to perform this aim.

The squad’s star participant undoubtedly is Alan Mozo. Whereas the best again could be a defensive legal responsibility at occasions, he’s a piston down the flank. He can ship harmful crosses into the field, or shoot from distance.

Collectively, the workforce’s power is its stability. Towards the New England Revolution within the second leg of the quarterfinals, they confirmed they will rating as they rallied from a three-goal deficit within the combination. Their important striker, Juan Ignacio Dinenno, is the Champions League’s high aim scorer with seven objectives.

Pumas also can defend very stoutly when wanted. They shut down Cruz Azul’s potent offense within the second leg of the match semifinals to advance.

The workforce’s important weak spot should be its depth. Outdoors of Rogerio and a few children, Lillini doesn’t have an excessive amount of to select from on his bench. Within the first leg of the ultimate towards Seattle Sounders FC, Pumas can be with out its defensive stalwart Arturo Ortiz, who was despatched off within the final match towards Cruz Azul. The query is, how a lot does Pumas have left?

Pumas projected lineup (4-4-2): Alfredo Talavera (GK) — Velarde, Freire, Galindo, Mozo — Corozo, Lopez, Meritao, Diogo — Dinenno, Alvarez.

What channel is Pumas vs Seattle?

1st Leg

• Date: Wednesday, April 27
• Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: FS1 (USA), TUDN (USA), OneSoccer (Canada)
• Streaming: fuboTV

Wednesday’s match between the Seattle Sounders and Pumas can be broadcast on FS1 (English) and Univision and TUDN (Spanish) within the USA. One Soccer will carry the match on TV and streaming in Canada.

It can be streamed on fuboTV in each nations, and new customers can reap the benefits of a free trial.

2nd Leg

• Date: Wednesday, Might 4
• Time: 10 p.m. ET
• TV channel: FS1 (USA), TUDN (USA), OneSoccer (Canada)
• Streaming: fuboTV

The second leg in Seattle may also be broadcast on FS1 (English) and TUDN (Spanish) within the USA, in addition to OneSoccer in Canada.

It can be streamed on fuboTV in each nations, and new customers can reap the benefits of a free trial.