CONCACAF Nations League

Concaclusions, Ep. 3: Mexico Stars Owned The Champions League 1st Round

Concaclusions, Ep. 3: Mexico Stars Owned The Champions League 1st Round

The stars of El Tri made a statement — to Concacaf and the globe — in the first round of the Champions League.

Sep 23, 2019
Concaclusions, Ep. 3: Mexico Stars Owned The Champions League 1st Round

What a week it was for Mexicans in Europe.

El Tri have been soaring under the direction of Gerardo “Tata” Martino, seemingly widening the gap between themselves and the U.S. each time they take the field. Perhaps their latest result — a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Argentina and their first loss under Martino — came at precisely the right time for a manager intent on keeping his team and its fans grounded.

Many of El Tri’s biggest names returned to the fold for the two recent friendlies after lengthy absences, further boosting the mood surrounding the federation after several new faces contributed to their Gold Cup triumph. After returning to their respective clubs following the first international break of the year, four of Mexico’s biggest names wasted no time in showing why they are among the best to hail from Concacaf.

Héctor Herrera | Atlético Madrid

The previous edition of Concaclusions identified Hector Herrera as a player to keep an eye on in Champions League play, despite him not appearing for the capital club in their first four La Liga matches.

Juve were better in virtually every facet of the game early on and were able to build a 2-0 lead with less than a half-hour to play, but let’s not forget about the opposing team and manager we’re talking about here. Diego Simeone’s Atlético have built a reputation on being incredibly difficult to overcome and repeatedly finding a way to snatch a draw or win from the jaws of defeat.

The Spanish side grew into the match and must have felt that at least a point was always there for the taking, particularly in light of their superiority on set pieces. With his side staring down the barrel of defeat, Herrera entered the match with just under a quarter of an hour remaining with the task of providing a spark. Is there a more surefire way to win over your new manager and supporters than by scoring a game-tying goal at the death on your debut?



Javier “Chicharito” Hernández | Sevilla

Instant Impact.

A change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered for Chicharito, and you can’t argue with the early results. Mexico’s all-time leading scorer didn’t find overwhelming success in his two-year stay at West Ham, but that doesn’t mean the 31-year-old should be counted out just yet.

Chicharito became Mexican international No. 2 to score in his first appearance at a new club, and what a goal it was. A player known for his clever movement in the box and close-range finishing, the “little pea” must have been dying of anticipation to pull this one from his sleeve.



Sevilla had trouble breaking down Qarabag — a team notorious for troubling even the best European sides at home — but Chicharito’s dazzling freekick in the 62nd minute broke the seal and the flood ensued en route to a 3-0 result.

Edson Álvarez | Ajax

Herrera and Chicharito are seasoned veterans for both club and country and have proven their worth, but El Tri fans will be thrilled to see their longevity and penchant for producing big moments on the European stage. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Edson Álvarez has barely had time to decorate his new home across the pond but continues to display his immense talent.

Able to play center back, defensive midfield, and even right back, the former Club América standout will have felt the pressure in joining the Dutch powerhouse on the heels of Matthijs de Ligt’s departure to Turin. Álvarez logged his first minutes with a 17-minute cameo in mid-August, and he subsequently started in midfield for each of the club’s next three league games and found the back of the net in their final Champions League qualifying match with a brilliant header.

Fast-forward to Matchday 1 of the group stage, and Ajax once again benefitted from a splendid finish by their recent Mexican import. The lights certainly don’t appear to be too bright for the youngster in his first month in Europe.



Hirving 'Chucky' Lozano | Napoli

Lozano may be the only player on the list to not find the back of the net, but that doesn’t nullify the significance of his midweek endeavors. The 24-year-old has a respectable amount of Champions League experience under his belt from his time at PSV, but his debut for Napoli in the competition came as the Partenopei secured arguably the best result of Matchday 1.

Lozano did find the back of the net in the first half through a headed effort, only to find the linesman had his flagged raised for offside. He proved a valuable piece of an attack that consistently broke apart Liverpool’s heralded back line.

The more experience he obtains with a side battling for the Serie A title and making noise on the European stage, the more Concacaf teams should shudder every time he takes the field for El Tri. The most expensive player in Napoli’s history spoke to just how important the win over the current champions is for the team’s confidence.

“Beating the Champions of Europe was exciting and a wonderful experience,” Lozano said following the 2-0 result. “We already knew that we were a strong team, but that win has increased our self-belief. Not everyone can take on Liverpool with such an attacking approach. I’m enthusiastic to be a part of this side.”