Cincinnati, Pumas, LAFC host opening encounters in CCC Round of 16 | OneFootball

MIAMI – The 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup continues on Tuesday with three first leg matches to kick off the Round of 16.

FC Cincinnati opens the evening facing Tigres UANL in Cincinnati, USA. Pumas UNAM will then host LD Alajuelense in Mexico City. The night concludes with Los Angeles FC welcoming the Columbus Crew in Los Angeles, USA.

FC Cincinnati vs. Tigres UANLFC Cincinnati and Tigres UANL are set to open the Round of 16 with their first leg encounter at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. The match will present the first-ever meeting between the sides in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

FC Cincinnati will make a second consecutive appearance in the Round of 16 after winning 5-2 on aggregate against F.C. Motagua in Round One. Forward Kévin Kenkey, who scored in both legs against Motagua, and midfielder Pavel Bucha, who bagged a brace in the second leg, were amongst Cincinnati’s top performers in the series.

Tigres will feature in the Round of 16 for a seventh time with the team currently boasting a perfect record in the round with 100 percent efficiency. The 2020 CCC winners secured their place in the Round of 16 after advancing past Real Estelí in Round One 3-1 on aggregate. Diego Lainez, who scored in the second leg, and Juan Brunetta, who provided an assist and completed 95 percent of his passes against the Nicaraguan side, will be amongst the players to watch.

A Bit of History FC Cincinnati vs. Tigres UANL

Tigres UANL will face an MLS opponent for the eighth time, having advanced in five previous encounters while being eliminated twice. Their first elimination came in the 2012/13 quarterfinals against Seattle Sounders, with a 4-2 aggregate score. The second exit occurred in the 2024 quarterfinals at the hands of Columbus Crew, where both matches ended in 1-1 draws before Crew won on penalties (4-3).

For FC Cincinnati, this will be their first-ever matchup against a Liga MX club.

Pumas UNAM vs. LD Alajuelense

Pumas UNAM will host LD Alajuelense at Estadio Universitario in Mexico City, Mexico for what will be the first-ever meeting in their history.

Pumas advanced to the Round of 16 after successfully making a comeback to defeat Cavalry FC 3-2 on aggregate. Guillermo Martínez was the hero for the Mexican side in Round One, coming off the bench to score a key brace in the second leg. The three-time Champions Cup winners will seek to continue its their strong record against Central American opposition, with 10 wins, four draws, and four losses since the 2008/09 campaign.

LD Alajuelense will begin its 2025 CCC campaign after qualifying directly to the Round of 16 as 2024 Concacaf Central American Cup champions. The two-time Champions Cup winners will be making the club’s 28th overall appearance in the competition and third consecutive participation. Diego Campos, who was finished as top scorer in the 2024 Central American Cup with six goals, and captain Celso Borges could be key players for Alajuelense.

A Bit of History Pumas UNAM vs. LD Alajuelense

Costa Rican and Mexican teams have clashed 37 times in two-legged series in the Concacaf Champions Cup. Liga MX sides have advanced in 27 of those encounters, while Costa Rican clubs have won 10.

For LD Alajuelense, this marks their 10th two-legged battle against a Mexican opponent in the tournament’s history. They have only managed to advance on three occasions. The first came in 1995 when they faced Tecos UAG (MEX) in the third round of the North & Central American zone, winning with a 4-3 aggregate score.

Historic Victory Against Club América

In the 2002 Round of 16 against CF América (MEX), LD Alajuelense secured a 1-0 home victory on February 13, with a goal from Luis Marín. In the second leg on March 6, they stunned América at the Estadio Azteca with a 2-0 win, thanks to goals from Wilmer López and Rolando Fonseca.

Their third historic advancement came in the 2002/04 semifinals against CF Monterrey (MEX), winning 1-0 in the first leg and drawing 1-1 in the second leg to seal their spot in the final.

Los Angeles FC vs. Columbus Crew

Los Angeles FC will host Columbus Crew at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

This will be the first match between the U.S. sides in Concacaf Champions Cup history. The teams have previously faced each other six times in Major League Soccer, with the series evenly matched with three wins apiece.

LAFC reached the Round of 16 after sealing a comeback in the second leg against the Colorado Rapids. Mark Delgado scored in the second leg to give LAFC a 1-nil win, which ended a three-match losing run in the competition for the California club. Denis Bouanga provided the assist for the goal and has now been directly involved in 11 of LAFC’s last 17 goals in the tournament. The two-time CCC runners-up will be making a third Round of 16 appearance, having always advanced past this stage.

Columbus Crew will be making its debut this campaign after qualifying directly to the Round of 16 as the 2024 Leagues Cup champion. This will mark the sixth Champions Cup appearance for the 2024 runners up. The Ohio side will aim to extend its current positive run, having lost just one of its last seven CCC matches. Goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, who recorded the most saves in the 2024 edition with 36, and attacker Diego Rossi, who led the Crew in goals in the 2024 CCC with six, will be amongst the players to watch.

A Bit of History Los Angeles FC vs. Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew will take on an MLS club for the third time in the tournament’s history. In their two previous series, they were eliminated once, falling to Real Salt Lake in the 2010/11 quarterfinals (0-0 and 1-4). However, they secured passage to the quarterfinals in 2024 after defeating Houston Dynamo 2-1 on aggregate.

Columbus Crew's record vs. MLS clubs in the tournament: GP-4 W-1 D-2 L-1 GF-3 GA-5.

LAFC will also face another MLS club for the third time in Champions Cup history, having advanced on both prior occasions. In the 2023 semifinals, they defeated Philadelphia Union with a 4-1 aggregate score. Their second MLS showdown came in the First Round of this year's tournament, where they eliminated Colorado Rapids on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

LAFC's record vs. MLS clubs in the tournament: GP-4 W-2 D-1 L-1 GF-6 GA-3.