New York Red Bulls vs. CD Guadalajara | Concacaf Champions League Preview

Dylan Butler

New York Red Bulls vs. Chivas de Guadalajara
2018 Concacaf Champions League — Semifinals, Leg 2
Red Bull Arena — Harrison
8 pm ET — April 10, 2018
WATCH: UDN, univisiondeportes.com, go90.com

The difference in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League semifinals was razor-thin, with Chivas de Guadalajara capitalizing on a midfield miscue by Tyler Adams to put away one of their few clear chances, while Bradley Wright-Phillips was unable to finish his late in the second half as Chivas emerged with a 1-0 victory at Estadio Akron.

The scene shifts to Red Bull Arena, where the Red Bulls are comfortable and have outscored opponents, 12-1, in four overall 2018 matches. However, there is expected to be a sizable Chivas contingent in the stands Tuesday night, possibly giving it a less-than-ideal feel for the home side.

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New York Red Bulls

In the first leg, Red Bulls coach Jesse Marsch altered his starting XI, going with three central defenders as he did to see out the quarterfinals against Club Tijuana in a 3-1 second leg win at Red Bull Arena. New York attacked more directly to take advantage of its size advantage and neutralize the hosts' strength of one-v-one defending in the midfield.

After failing to secure an away goal for the first time in the competition, the Red Bulls feel confident in their ability to score in Harrison, where they are 5-0-2 all-time in CCL play.

“With the 1-0 deficit, we should feel strongly that coming back to Red Bull Arena we’re going to be aggressive, we’re going to find our chances and we’re going to find a way to take care of this series,” Marsch said following training Saturday.

The Red Bulls will be without Aurelien Collin and Alex Muyl, who are serving a one-game suspension due to yellow-card accumulation, but central defender Fidel Escobar is back training fully following a hamstring injury suffered with Panama during the international break last month.

Suspended: Aurelien Collin, Alex Muyl
Suspended after next caution: Tyler Adams, Danny Royer, Luis Robles, Derrick Etienne, Michael Murillo, Kemar Lawrence
Injury Report: OUT: D - Kyle Duncan (torn right ACL)

Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Luis Robles — Michael Murillo, Tim Parker, Aaron Long, Kemar Lawrence — Tyler Adams, Marc Rzatkowski — Danny Royer, Sean Davis, Florian Valot — Bradley Wright-Phillips

CD Guadalajara

Rodolfo Pizarro helped provide the seminal moment of the first leg when he intercepted an errant Adams pass and ran at the young American midfielder, twisting him before slipping a pass to Isaac Brizuela, who fired past an onrushing Luis Robles in the 26th minute. Rodolfo Cota’s lone save was a huge one, when he raced off his line to deny Wright-Phillips of a late equalizer.

Chivas, though, suffered a blow Friday when central defender Jair Pereira was banned two games by Concacaf for putting his hand around Sean Davis’ throat in a late scrum. Carlos Salcido will likely slot in as his replacement.

While the Red Bulls had their match against the Houston Dynamo moved from Saturday to better prepare for the second leg, Chivas weren’t as fortunate, playing Veracruz in the 14th round of the Liga MX Clausura Saturday night. Matias Almeyda made eight changes and utilized a mostly reserve lineup in a 1-0 loss that essentially crushes Chivas’ fleeting playoff hopes.

Suspended: Jair Pereira
Suspended after next caution: Jesus Godinez, Rodolfo Cota, Carlos Cisneros, Orbelin Pineda, Edwin Hernandez, Rodolfo Pizarro
Injury Report: OUT: D - Jesus Sanchez (right knee); M - Alan Cervantes (left knee), D - Hedgardo Marin (right thigh)

Projected Starting XI
(4-4-1-1, right to left)
GK: Rodolfo Cota — Carlos Cisneros, Carlos Salcido, Oswaldo Alanis, Edwin Hernandez — Eduardo Lopez, Michael Perez, Orbelin Pineda, Rodolfo Pizarro — Alan Pulido — Jose de Jesus Godinez

All-Time Series

Chivas defeated the Red Bulls, 1-0, in the opening leg April 4 at Estadio Akron. The teams previously met in a preseason friendly on Feb. 15, 2011, with Chivas claiming a 3-2 home victory.
CONCACAF Champions League history: Guadalajara - 1 appearance (2012/13) 6 wins, 2 losses, 1 ties (18 goals) … New York Red Bulls - 3 appearances (2008/09, 2014/15, 2016/17) 6 wins, 4 losses, 7 ties (20 goals)