MIAMI, Florida – The 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup kicks off next month on February 6 and many eyes will be on Mexican giants Club America, who are the most decorated team in tournament history with seven titles.
Las Aguilas are making their 15th appearance in the tournament and the first one since their run to the Final in the 2021 edition. No doubt that Club America will be targeting an eighth crown and their first since 2015-16.
Standing in Club America’s way to begin the Champions Cup is Real Esteli of Nicaragua, a club that will be participating in the tournament for the 12th time.
Last fall, Real Esteli enjoyed a run for the ages in reaching the Final of the 2023 Concacaf Central American Cup, as the defeated regional giants and past Concacaf champions Olimpia of Honduras and Deportivo Saprissa of Costa Rica.
One would think that at some point in previous Champions Cups these two teams had faced off, but the reality is different. In fact, both teams have limited experience in facing opposition from each other’s domestic league.
For Real Esteli, the only time they ever went up against Mexican opposition in a Champions Cup came in 2012-13. Drawn into the same group with Tigres, Real Esteli started the tournament with a 4-0 defeat in Mexico, but rebounded nicely later in the campaign and earned a 1-1 draw at home thanks to a goal from Juan Barrera.
It has been a similar story for Club America.
The all-time winners have only competed once against a Nicaraguan opponent. That was back in the 2015-16 group stage when Club America was drawn into a group with Walter Ferretti.
A second half goal from Michael Arroyo earned Club America the three points in a 1-0 win at home, while an Arroyo penalty conversion was bookended by a pair of Darwin Quintero goals in a 3-1 victory in Nicaragua.
Now, two teams renowned for their domestic and international prowess will have the opportunity to measure themselves against each other in one of the most anticipated match-ups in Round One.
