Vancouver Whitecaps enter Concacaf nightmare against Saprissa in hostile clash | OneFootball

The Vancouver Whitecaps travel to Costa Rica to face Deportivo Saprissa, a three-time Concacaf Champions Cup winner, in the first round of the 2025 tournament. The match is the first between the two teams, with a Central American giant meeting a Canadian club looking to earn continental respect.

The first part will be in Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Juan de Tibás, Costa Rica, a notoriously challenging surface for visiting teams. Saprissa is in a winning streak ahead of the match, having defeated Comunicaciones FC 4-2 in the play-in round, and Whitecaps had qualified by taking the 2024 Canadian Championship.

This is going to be a clash of styles of the old school — against Saprissa's experience and heritage, a Concacaf fights-built team, is matched Vancouver Whitecaps' drive and recent history of physically demanding games against Central American opponents.

The Central American kings want to reclaim their throne

Selecting their 38th Concacaf Champions Cup appearance, Deportivo Saprissa is one of the continent's most dreaded and respected clubs. With three Concacaf titles in 1993, 1995, and 2005, as well as an enthusiastic and dedicated fan base, Deportivo Saprissa seeks to return to the top of the standings after years of subpar play.

Their last tournament victory came only in 2019 against Tigres UANL, though, and since then Saprissa have failed to win a Champions Cup match in nine successive tries. Last season they were knocked out of the first round by Philadelphia Union, a bitter blow for a team that must be aspiring to be winning trophies.

The team now is counting on the lead of Mariano Torres, who led the competition in passes throughout the early half of 2024, and Ariel Rodríguez's expertise, the club's Champions Cup record goal-scorer of the 2008/09 era. Deyver Vega, with Concacaf goal experience under his belt from his stint at Herediano, could be a key attacking piece as well.

The biggest test? Defense. Saprissa has conceded goals in five of their last six Concacaf Champions Cup matches, and they must tighten up to avoid getting into trouble against a Vancouver side with powerful attacking weapons.

Vancouver Whitecaps bet on consistency to overcome a giant

Vancouver Whitecaps enter their fifth Concacaf Champions Cup, seeking a historical milestone —defeating a Central American club away from home. While they went to the 2016/17 semifinals, the Canadians have been inconsistent in international play.

Their record against Central American teams is uneven: two wins, two losses in four games. Their latest meeting was with Honduras' Real España in 2023, where Vancouver advanced with a 7-3 aggregate victory.

The red flag of the day? Their away form. The Whitecaps' last Champions Cup away victory was in 2016, since which time they have built a string of brutal defeats, including the 3-0 drubbing they took from Tigres UANL last year's edition.

Their hopes are placed on Brian White, the US striker who trailed two successive 16-goal MLS seasons. He will be accompanied by exciting midfielder Pedro Vite and Ryan Raposo, who led the team in recoveries in the Champions Cup last year, for a powerful squad. But can Vancouver's offense hold up to the hectic pace of Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, where few away visitors depart winners?