Champions League Tracker: The latest on Real C.D. España ahead of Wednesday’s Round of 16 first leg
VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC returns to action in the Concacaf Champions League this Wednesday.
The club meet Honduran club Real CD España in the first leg of the round of 16 at BC Place this Wednesday 8 March. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.
Next week’s second leg takes place on Wednesday, March 15 at the Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula, Honduras with kick-off scheduled for 3pm PT.
Ahead of Wednesday’s game, we take a look at how España have fared lately and some key storylines to watch.
España are fifth in the Liga Nacional with 15 points from 11 games.
- Jhow Benavidez
- Ramiro Rocca
- Pedro Baez
- Claudio Innella
- Juan Ignacio Vieyra
- Darixon Vuelto
- Miguel Carrasco
- Jose Reyes
- Mayron Ariel Flores Zavala
- Daniel Carter
CD Victoria 1-3 Real CD Spain
España took an early lead thanks to Darixon Vuelto’s second goal of the season and later extended it through Ramiro Rocca. Victoria found some life in the 87th minute but the game was ended in added time when Daniel Carter secured all three points for España.
Real CD España 0-3 CD Motagua
After clinching just one win in four home games this season, España were desperate for a result in a close game against Champions League regulars Motagua. However, the trend continued as Motagua scored two goals in the first 22 minutes of the game and added a third late on.
Ahead of Wednesday’s clash, España have won just once in their last six games, conceding nine goals.
CONTINENTAL TOURNAMENT EXPERIENCE
There are several players in the ‘Caps squad with experience in continental tournaments including the Concacaf Champions League, UEFA Champions League and more.
In terms of Concacaf Champions League experience, captain Russell Teibert is the only member of the squad to have previously played with the Caps in the tournament, making six of his seven appearances in the starting XI in 2015/16 and 2016/17 editions.
Meanwhile, defender Tristan Blackmon almost won the tournament as a member of Los Angeles FC but narrowly lost to Tigres UANL in 2020.
Midfielder Julian Gressel took part in the tournament with Atlanta United FC that same year and scored twice as the club reached the quarter-finals.
In 2019, forward Brian White played a Champions League game with New York Red Bulls, coming on as a substitute against Dominican club Atletico Pantoja.
There are also a number of caps with experience in other continental tournaments, including Cristian Dájome, who won the 2018/19 Copa Sudamericana with Independiente Del Valle and the 2015/16 Copa Libertadores with Atlético Nacional.
Also Déiber Caicedo (Copa Sudamericana), Sergio Córdova (Copa Sudamericana), Andrés Cubas (Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana), Mathías Laborda (Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana), Luís Martins (UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League), Alessandro Schöpf ( UEFA Champions League), Yohei Takaoka (AFC Champions League) and Pedro Vite (Copa Libertadores) all have experience in continental tournaments around the world.
LINKS WITH REAL CD ESPAÑA
‘Caps defender Tristan Blackmon played with España goalkeeper Luis López at Los Angeles FC in the 2018 season. They started together in a game against Sporting Kansas City on August 11, 2018.
Real CD España goalkeeper Luis López with Los Angeles FC (2018)
Real CD España defender Devron Garcia with Orlando City SC (2016-17)
Real CD España striker Pedro Báez with Real Salt Lake (2016)
Argentina: Andrés Cubas (born in Argentina), Ramiro Rocca, Juan Vieyra
Paraguay: Andrés Cubas, Pedro Baez
Uruguay: Mathías Laborda, Claudio Innella
The first ‘Caps win at BC Place in the CCL game came in a 1–0 win over Honduran club CD Olimpia thanks to a goal by homegrown Kianz Froese during the 2015–16 tournament.
VWFC 3-0 Sporting Kansas City
Cristian Techera grabbed a brace and Erik Hurtado pulled off a wonderful lob from outside the box to give the Caps a crucial three points in the 2016/17 group stage.
To cap off the 2016/17 group stage, the Blue and Whites defeated Trinidad and Tobago’s FC Central at BC Place. The late Masato Kudo joined Blas Pérez and another brace from Cristian Techera on the scoresheet.
VWFC 2-0 New York Red Bulls
The ‘Caps secured their place in the semifinals of the 2016/17 edition of the Champions League with a 2-0 win in the second leg over the New York Red Bulls, with Alphonso Davies scoring his first goal at BC Place and Fredy Montero his first ‘Caps -Goal.