The UEFA Champions League has just come to a thrilling conclusion, but Champions League action in our neck of the woods is just getting started.
On Monday night, the top teams from around the continent learned their fate as CONCACAF officials held the official draw for the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League in Miami.
Making their third appearance (2009-10; 2014-15), the New York Red Bulls are back in the region’s most prestigious club competition by virtue of their 2015 Supporters’ Shield triumph.
After being assigned to three different pots, the 24 teams were then randomly selected into one of eight possible groups, and the Red Bulls now know their upcoming opponents.
Hailing from El Salvador, Alianza F.C. will join New York in Group F. One of the most popular teams in the country, Aliazna is making their second appearance in SCCL play. The 11-time Primera División champions have won the competition’s previous iteration, the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, back in 1967.
The capital club has qualified for the tournament after securing the 2015 El Salvador Apertura Primera División de Fútbol Profesional championship, beating C.D. Fas in the final, 1-0. The Red Bulls faced off against Fas in their last SCCL appearance, going 1-0-1 in home-and-home series in the group stage.
Alongside both Alianza and New York, Guatemalan side Antigua GFC rounds out the group.
The 2015 Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala Apertura champions are making their SCCL debut following their first domestic title in club history.
Unlike their Group F foes, Antigua is a relatively smaller and less storied club. After enduring some financial troubles, Antigua found themselves relegated to the second division for 16 years during the 1980s and 90s. The club has only recently found some stability, returning to the Guatemalan top flight in 2014 after a financial takeover.
The groups are all set, but the match dates and times have yet to be determined. Keep it locked to NewYorkRedBulls.com for SCCL news and updates.
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