The stage is set for the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
The Seattle Sounders will face Honduran powerhouse CD Olimpia in a two-legged fixture in the Round of 16. The first match of the series will take place in Honduras between on February 20 at 7 p.m. PT, while the return leg will be held at CenturyLink Field on February 27 at 7 p.m. PT.
“For a club like ours, it’s our sixth Champions League, so we’ve seen every possible iteration of this tournament,” Sounders FC General Manager & President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey said during the Concacaf Post-Show. “I think for us it’s about coming out and being ready and trying to come out of the gates strong.”
The 31-time Honduras national champion, CD Olimpia brings a wealth of experience and ample quality to the competition. They currently sit in first place in their domestic league.
Seattle faced CD Olimpia in the group stage in the 2015-16 edition of SCCL, falling 1-0 in Honduras after securing a dramatic 2-1 victory at CenturyLink Field. That win at home saw the Rave Green finish one point ahead of Olimpia atop Group F, though the team eventually fell to Club América in the quarterfinals.
2020 marks Seattle’s sixth venture into the Concacaf Champions League. Most recently, Seattle knocked out Santa Tecla FC in the 2018 Round of 16 before getting knocked out by eventual champions Chivas de Guadalajara in the quarterfinal round.
The team’s immense experience in knockout competitions, both domestically and internationally, provides a competitive advantage for the Sounders as they contend for continental glory.
“We’re an experienced team,” added Lagerwey. “We’ve been in three of the last four MLS Cups and won two of them. We’ve been in this tournament a number of times – three times in the last five years now. So, I think our players are familiar with our opponents. They’re familiar with our opponents. They have big game experience. I think those are the kinds of things that will help us.”
You can find more information on the 2020 edition of the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League here.
