MIAMI, Florida – Former champions Tigres UANL of Mexico will welcome in Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League debutants Orlando City SC of MLS to the Estadio Universitario in San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico on Tuesday night in the first leg of the 2023 SCCL Round of 16.
Tigres return to the tournament for the first time since the 2020 edition when they raised the trophy after defeating Los Angeles FC 2-1 in the Final.
Coincidentally, that victory came at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, which serves as the home of Tigres’ Tuesday opponent.
When it comes to Tigres and the SCCL, it is impossible to not mention the goal-scoring exploits of talismanic FW Andre-Pierre Gignac. The Frenchman is already an SCCL legend with 14 career SCCL goals, including six in the 2020 edition when he collected Best Player and Top Scorer honors.
Tigres remain solid at the back as well, beginning with GK Nahuel Guzman, who played 571 minutes and recorded 11 saves in that 2020 campaign.
With other important pieces like FW Nicolas Ibanez and winger Luis Quinones, the latter being one of the veterans of the 2020 team, Tigres will be unfazed by the challenge of trying to win a second Concacaf crown.
Their home record in SCCL play also provides another boost, with the Felinos a sparkling 21W-6D-2L in front of their fans.
Welcome to #SCCL23, @OrlandoCitySC
— Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League (@TheChampions) March 2, 2023
This will be the Lions' first appearance in Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League 🦁 pic.twitter.com/l2ZORMFThj
It should make for a sturdy test for an Orlando City side playing in their first ever SCCL match. The Florida franchise qualified as champion of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup in which the likes of MF Facundo Torres (4 goals) and FW Ercan Kara (1 goal) played important roles.
That duo was also very good last season in MLS, with Facundo scoring nine goals and adding 10 assists, while Kara tallied 11 goals.
Another point to consider is that Orlando City have SCCL experience on the touchline in the form of Head Coach Oscar Pareja. The Colombian was at the helm of FC Dallas when the Texans made a memorable run to the 2016-17 SCCL semifinals.
Game Notes Tigres UANL vs Orlando City FC
