MIAMI, Florida – A dramatic conclusion to the 2023 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League is on the docket beginning on Wednesday night, as Club Leon of Liga MX welcome in Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer to the Estadio Leon in Leon, Mexico for the first leg of the Final.
Club Leon reached this stage of the tournament with victories over Tauro of Panama, Haitian club Violette and fellow Liga MX side Tigres, while LAFC overcame challenges from Costa Rica’s Alajuelense and fellow MLS teams Vancouver Whitecaps and the Philadelphia Union.
While this will be the first ever meeting in an SCCL Final between these two clubs, they did meet in a memorable Round of 16 series in 2020 when LAFC rallied from a 2-0 first leg defeat in Mexico to eliminate Club Leon 3-2 on the strength of a 3-0 second leg triumph.
For Club Leon, it will be their first Final in the SCCL era and just their second Concacaf Final ever (1993), while LAFC will be competing in their second SCCL Final after finishing as runners-up in their debut campaign in 2020.
It will be the sixth Concacaf Final between teams from Mexico and the United States, with Mexican clubs owning a slight 3-2 advantage overall.
Club Leon have been superb in front of their home fans in this SCCL, amassing three wins and outscoring opponents 10-1. However, LAFC arrive into Wednesday’s encounter with a sparkling road record in the 2023 SCCL of two wins and a draw, while outscoring opponents 7-1.
Leading the way for Club Leon in this Concacaf campaign have been Victor Davila with three goals, plus Elias Hernandez with a pair of goals and two assists. Lucas Romero has also been a stalwart in midfield, completing the most passes with 329 while making 14 ball recoveries.
Meanwhile, one would be hard-pressed to find a better dynamic duo than LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Carlos Vela. Bouanga currently leads the 2023 SCCL in scoring with six goals and has two assists to his name.
The incomparable Vela has three goals and two assists and is already quite familiar with scoring against Club Leon in the SCCL. The veteran Mexican FW had a pair of goals in that 3-0 Round of 16 second leg win in 2020.
LAFC have ample talent in midfield as well, in the form of Ilie Sanchez, who leads the entire 2023 SCCL in ball recoveries with 15 and has completed 294 passes.
With top quality on both sides from back to front, fans can expect an exciting initial 90 minutes.
Match Officials
Referee: Walter Lopez (GUA)
AR1 Luis Ventura (GUA) AR2 Humberto Panjoj (GUA)
4th Official: Mario Escobar (GUA)
VAR: Drew Fischer (CAN)
AVAR1 Guillermo Pacheco (MEX)
Stats, history in SCCL Club Leon vs LAFC
