The Houston Dynamo and Atlas will meet for the first time in their history as both sides open their 2024 Leagues Cup campaign on Saturday at Shell Energy Stadium.
Last weekend, the Dynamo won a see-saw battle in Vancouver, defeating the Whitecaps 4-3, while Los Zorros held on for a 2-1 triumph over Puebla in their previous Liga MX affair.
Match preview
With back-to-back domestic triumphs, Houston have put themselves in a strong position to make the MLS Cup playoffs for a second successive campaign.
Ben Olsen's side are currently sixth in the Western Conference table, just a point behind the Whitecaps, though they are only separated by one point from the Portland Timbers in eighth.
Their last two triumphs have come as the visitors, and they enter this contest on a six-match unbeaten run in MLS, while they have not lost a home contest since April (1-0 to Austin FC).
With 37 points after 25 MLS matchdays, the Dynamo have accumulated five more points than they had at this stage of the previous campaign.
This will be their third appearance in this competition, and Houston have made it to the knockout stage in those prior instances, losing to Charlotte FC in the last 16 a year ago (2-1).
Orange Crush have never lost a Leagues Cup contest versus a Mexican opponent, with all three of their meetings going to penalties and the Dynamo emerging victorious twice.
Benat San Jose has begun his first Apertura campaign in Liga MX for Atlas positively, with his side currently one of five unbeaten teams in that competition.
After four league fixtures, they find themselves in sixth with eight points, winning their first away match of the new domestic campaign last week.
Going back to the previous Clausura campaign this year, the Guadalajara-based side are unbeaten in three successive home contests.
Atlas have a 100% record in all of their opening matches at this tournament, defeating New York City 1-0 in their first game last year.
In two previous Leagues Cup appearances, they have never been defeated within 90 minutes, losing on penalties to the New England Revolution in the round of 32 last year.
Last season, they topped a group that featured two MLS clubs, following up their victory over NYCFC with another narrow 1-0 win versus Toronto.
Team News
In their victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps last week, Houston were missing Nelson Quinones, who is out for the season with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Raines is away on international duty with the USA at the Under-20 CONCACAF Championship being held in Mexico.
A brace from Griffin Dorsey, plus goals from Brad Smith and Adalberto Carrasquilla, enabled them to claim a victory over the Whitecaps.
The Guadalajara side did not have Brian Lozano available last Friday due to a knee issue, while Mauro Manotas sat out with an ACL problem.
Leonardo Flores is still dealing with a leg injury and is not projected to return to the Atlas lineup until September at the earliest.
Eduardo Aguirre, who is currently on loan from Santos Laguna, had a brace in their victory against Puebla over a week ago.
Houston Dynamo possible starting lineup:
Clark; Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Escobar; Artur, Herrera; Carrasquilla, Bassi, Blessing; Ferreira
Atlas possible starting lineup:
Vargas; G. Aguirre, Nervo, Mora, Dominguez; Zaldivar, Rocha; Murillo, Marquez, R. Lozano; E. Aguirre
We say: Houston Dynamo 1-2 Atlas
The defensive poise of the Mexicans away from home could make the difference in this match, which features two sides that should be well-supported, given the proximity of Houston to Mexico.
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