The CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals return to Seattle on Wednesday night (7 p.m. PT | TICKETS). After defeating Salvadoran side Santa Tecla FC in the Round of 16 last week, the Sounders booked their tickets to the quarterfinals for the fourth time in club history and will face Chivas de Guadalajara, one of the most successful teams in Liga MX history.
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THREE THINGS TO KNOW:
A Mexican giant
Club Deportivo Guadalajara is one of the most storied and popular Mexican clubs in Mexico and the United States. Worldwide, Chivas is followed by more than 30 million fans. Many Chivas fans abroad see the team as a cultural symbol and an extension of their Mexican identity, largely due to the fact that they exclusively have Mexican players on their roster.
A dangerous rival
Despite their current struggles in Liga MX - they currently sit in 16th place in the 18-team table - Chivas tend to be unpredictable and often rise to the occasion in big matches. After a 1-1 draw against their biggest rival, Club America, over the weekend, Guadalajara will try to get back on the winning side as soon as possible. The Sounders will look to take advantage of potential exhaustion from Chivas as they will be playing their 8th match in 25 days on Wednesday night. Additionally, the Rave Green must make use of their home-field during the first leg, before facing a complicated away atmosphere at Estadio Akron in Leg 2.
Complicated style of play
Chivas boast a very dynamic style of play: they have a speedy attack with very skillful players and put forth significant pressure when playing defense. Guadalajara’s roster is comprised of technical players that like to keep possession of the ball, which could complicate things for a Sounders team that feels more comfortable setting the rhythm of the match.
