Honduras and Mexico will begin their two-legged battle for a CONCACAF Nations League semi-final spot when they meet at the Estadio Francisco Morazan on Saturday.
The hosts scraped through Group B to reach the knockout rounds, while their visitors enter the competition at this stage in search of a first title after falling just short in the previous edition.
Match preview
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Honduras return to action on Saturday aiming to continue their pleasing CONCACAF Nations League run and take an advantage in their two-legged quarter-final tie, having qualified for the final eight through the group stage in League A.
Los Catrachos experienced a mixed start in September, kicking off with a 4-0 thrashing of Trinidad and Tobago thanks to goals from Alexander Lopez, Kervin Arriaga, Edwin Rodriguez and David Ruiz, before suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Jamaica.
Reinaldo Rueda's team returned to winning ways in a trip to French Guiana last month, as Anthony Lozano, Deiby Flores and Jorge Benguche got on the scoresheet in a 3-2 triumph, and they were able to get over the line with a goalless stalemate away at Jamaica in the final round of games, pipping Nicaragua to second spot on goal difference.
In a bid to reach the CONCACAF Nations League semi-finals for the first time, having previously finished third in the 2021 iteration, Honduras will now bid to make the most of home advantage and gain an aggregate lead on Saturday.
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They face a tough test, though, as the visitors enter this edition of the Nations League aiming to go five matches unbeaten and go one better after their defeat in the last final in March.
Mexico fell just short of winning the competition for the first time in the 2023-24 campaign, getting past Panama in the semi-finals only to suffer a 2-0 defeat to the USA, and after failing to progress through the Copa America group stage in June, they appear to have rediscovered their form in recent months.
That campaign ended in a goalless stalemate with Ecuador, leaving El Tricolor agonisingly short of a quarter-final place, before they dished out a 3-0 beating to New Zealand and played out a goalless stalemate with Canada in a pair of friendlies in September under the new management of returning boss Javier Aguirre.
They then most recently met USA in another friendly in the October international break and avenged the Nations League final defeat, as Raul Jimenez and Cesar Huerta fired them to a 2-0 victory at the Estadio Akron.
With momentum back on their side, Mexico will now bid to gain an edge in their quarter-final tie before returning for the home leg next week with their sights set on reaching another final and adding to their trophy cabinet having most recently won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023.
Team News
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Reinaldo Rueda should field a similar Honduras starting XI from the goalless draw away at Jamaica last month in their last group game, with Denil Maldonado and Luis Vega bound to continue at the heart of the defence after that clean sheet.
Bryan Acosta, who leads the squad with 69 international caps, will fight to return to the midfield after Deiby Flores and Kervin Arriaga partnered up last time out.
Anthony Lozano, who plies his trade in the Mexican top flight with Santos Laguna, will continue to lead the line having notched up 15 goals in 55 appearances for his nation, leaving Rubilio Castillo, Jorge Benguche and Jorge Alvarez to compete to join him up top.
Javier Aguirre has a strong Mexico squad to choose from, although PSV Eindhoven winger Hirving Lozano remains excluded while Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez missed out on a call-up due to an injury picked up in September.
Fulham's Raul Jimenez will continue to spearhead the attack, having netted 34 goals in his 105 caps, while Henry Martin could line up in support alongside Orbelin Pineda and Cesar Huerta.
Andres Guardado, who sits atop El Tricolor's all-time appearance charts with 180, earned his final cap against the USA last time out, and Luis Romo could come in to take his place alongside key man and captain Edson Alvarez at the base of the midfield.
Honduras possible starting lineup:
Menjivar; Najar, Maldonado, Vega, Rosales; Rivas, Arriaga, Acosta, Rodriguez; Lozano, Benguche
Mexico possible starting lineup:
Malagon; Sanchez, Vasquez, Montes, Angulo; Alvarez, Romo; Martin, Pineda, Huerta; Jimenez
We say: Honduras 0-2 Mexico
While Honduras will be keen to take a lead into a tricky away leg next week, we do not see the hosts having the quality to keep Mexico at bay and envisage Javier Aguirre's team taking control in San Pedro Sula.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
