CONCACAF Champions League 2020: Montreal Impact vs Saprissa

The second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League round of 16 matchup between Montreal Impact and Saprissa played out at Stade Olympique in Canada on Wednesday night. The Impact impressed in the first leg in Costa Rica, going ahead on two goals from Orji Okwonkwo and new signing Romell Quioto before Saprissa’s Johan Venegas and Ariel Rodríguez equalised. This tactical analysis will examine the styles of play between the two sides in the second leg and dissect how Montreal were able to fend off Saprissa’s attack to secure advancement in the tournament.

Lineups

Montreal’s new manager Thierry Henry, the legendary former Arsenal striker, sent out a lineup and tactical game model somewhat similar to that of the first leg. Clément Diop started in goal for the second straight match after only starting eight matches in all competitions over the past two years for the club. Jukka Raitala and Rod Fanni began as centre-backs alongside new signing Luis Binks who started at centre-back with the usual starter Rudy Camacho out with an injury. Zachary Brault-Guillard and Jorge Corrales completed the defensive line in the back five/back three formation as the wing-backs. Shamit Shome, Samuel Piette, Amar Sejdic started in the midfield line, while former La Masia graduate Bojan Krkić started in the spaces around striker Quioto.

Saprissa manager Wálter Centeno also started a fluid eleven. Ricardo Blanco, Jean Carlo Agüero, David Guzmán, Aubrey David, and Wálter Cortés began defensively. Former MLS players Christian Bolaños and Johan Venegas started on the wings aside Mariano Torres and Marvin Angulo. 17-year-old striker Manfred Ugalde led the attack.