Photo Credit: Santos Laguna
By: Jonny Rico
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LIGA MX side Santos Laguna look to finally conquer the elusive CONCACAF Champions League ( CCL ) title. And its quest starts on Wednesday Feb. 24 in Carson, Calif. as it visits Major League Soccer’s (MLS) LA Galaxy in the first leg match of the CCL quarterfinals.
This is not the same big and powerful Santos Laguna that made the 2011-12 and 2012-13 CCL Final. The big money from the brewing company which use to own it is now gone. The appointed club President Alejandro Irarragorri, along with other investors decided to put in their money to buy out the club from Group Modelo when the Mexican beer company was bought out by Belgian beer giants InBev.
Many of the club’s biggest names had to depart in order to cut down on wages. The likes of Oribe Peralta, Carlos Darwin Quintero, Juan Pablo Rodriguez, Oswaldo Sanchez and more let go.
The Northern Mexico team are now a ‘Money-Ball’ team. It looks for high potential players that it can use to surprise other teams with. One of the best signings it has made since the big changes has been that of Argentine goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin. The talented goalkeeper has even earned call ups to Argentina’s National Team with his performances with Santos Laguna.
Many expected Santos to struggle with the departure of many of its star players. And it did for a while. During the 2015 Clausura season Santos went on a six game winless streak from Week 6 through Week 11. But then went on to win five of the final six matches and qualified to the playoff as the eighth and final seed. It eventually went on the win the league title over another surprise entry, Club Queretaro.
Despite winning the league title Santos Laguna struggled with the adjustment from a big spending team to a ‘Money-Ball’ team. It took a toll on the team in the 2015 Apertura season where it finished in 15th place in the league table.
But now Santos looks a little more comfortable in its new identity and is starting to produce good football. It begun the current 2016 Clausura season winning three of the first four matches. It now sits in ninth place with 10 points, same as Club Tijuana (eighth) and Cruz Azul (seventh).
Santos Laguna will have an intense battle against LA Galaxy in the quarterfinals. But given the fact that Santos has had its squad together now a few seasons, and is in much better rhythm as opposed to the LA Galaxy which is barely incorporating a few players to its squad and has yet to begin its domestic league; the LIGA MX side will be slight favorites in this matchup.
SCHEDULE AND (USA) BROADCAST INFO:
LA Galaxy vs Santos Laguna – StubHub Center. Carson, Calif.
Wednesday Feb. 24. 10:00 p.m. (Eastern) / 7:00 p.m. (Pacific)
TV: Fox Sports 1 (English), Univision Deportes Network (Spanish)
