After weeks of palpable anticipation, Sporting Kansas City and Deportivo Toluca FC are finally set to lock horns in the 2019 Scotiabank Champions League Round of 16.
Sporting will host the first leg at Children’s Mercy Park on Thursday before traveling to Mexico for the decisive second leg next Thursday, Feb. 28. Tickets to the 7 p.m. CT showdown at Children’s Mercy Park are available at SeatGeek.com as Sporting hosts its earliest competitive match in club history against one of Mexico's most accomplished teams.
In the 20 days leading up to Thursday, SportingKC.com has rattled off a 20-day Champions League Countdown, hitting all the relevant storylines surrounding the two-legged fixture. From history and geography lessons to number crunching, player matchups and coaching backgrounds, this daily series has set the stage for a pivotal battle in which two successful sides aim to take their first steps toward Champions League glory. Catch up on all 20 posts in the space below.
<strong>Countdown</strong> |
<strong>Date</strong> |
<strong>Topic</strong> |
20 Days |
Feb. 1 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/01/champions-league-countdown-20-days-how-sporting-and-toluca-got-here">How Sporting and Toluca qualified for the Champions League</a> |
19 Days |
Feb. 2 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/02/champions-league-countdown-19-days-how-sporting-kc-and-mls-have-fared-against">How Sporting (and MLS) has fared against Liga MX opposition</a> |
18 Days |
Feb. 3 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/03/champions-league-countdown-18-days-how-toluca-has-fared-against-mls-opposition">How Toluca has fared against MLS opposition</a> |
17 Days |
Feb. 4 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/04/champions-league-countdown-17-days-mastering-rules-competition">Mastering the rules of the Champions League</a> |
16 Days |
Feb. 5 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/05/champions-league-countdown-16-days-whats-stake-sporting-kc-and-toluca">What's at stake for Sporting and Toluca in the Champions League</a> |
15 Days |
Feb. 6 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/06/champions-league-countdown-15-days-how-sporting-kc-and-toluca-have-fared-champions">How Sporting and Toluca have fared in the Champions League</a> |
14 Days |
Feb. 7 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/07/champions-league-countdown-14-days-sporting-prepares-highest-altitude-match-club">Sporting preps for highest-altitude match in club history</a> |
13 Days |
Feb. 8 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/09/champions-league-countdown-12-days-challenges-facing-sporting-kc-and-toluca">Explaining the unique structure of Liga MX</a> |
12 Days |
Feb. 9 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/09/champions-league-countdown-12-days-challenges-facing-sporting-kc-and-toluca">The unique challenges facing Sporting and Toluca</a> |
11 Days |
Feb. 10 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/10/champions-league-countdown-11-days-accomplished-managers-square-marquee-matchup">Accomplished managers Vermes and Cristante set to square off</a> |
10 Days |
Feb. 11 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/11/champions-league-countdown-10-days-sporting-well-seasoned-international-club">Sporting are well-seasoned in international competitions</a> |
9 Days |
Feb. 12 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/12/champions-league-countdown-9-days-why-toluca-are-challenge-childrens-mercy-park">Why Toluca are in for a challenge at Children's Mercy Park</a> |
8 Days |
Feb. 13 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/13/champions-league-countdown-8-days-get-know-estadio-nemesio-diez-home-toluca">Get to know Toluca's Estadio Nemesio Diez</a> |
7 Days |
Feb. 14 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/14/champions-league-countdown-7-days-key-takeaways-sportings-preseason">Key takeaways from Sporting's preseason campaign</a> |
6 Days |
Feb. 15 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/15/champions-league-countdown-6-days-sporting-and-toluca-rack-travel-mileage">Sporting and Toluca to rack up the travel mileage</a> |
5 Days |
Feb. 16 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/16/champions-league-countdown-5-days-how-sporting-and-toluca-compare-international">Comparing the international experience on both clubs</a> |
4 Days |
Feb. 17 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/17/champions-league-countdown-4-days-sportings-shortest-offseason-ever-about-end">Sporting's shortest offseason ever is about to end</a> |
3 Days |
Feb. 18 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/18/champions-league-countdown-3-days-key-takeaways-tolucas-recent-results">Key takeaways from Toluca's Clausura season thus far</a> |
2 Days |
Feb. 19 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/19/champions-league-countdown-2-days-ten-questions-surrounding-thursdays-first-leg">Ten questions surrounding Thursday's first leg</a> |
1 Day |
Feb. 20 |
<a href="https://www.sportingkc.com/post/2019/02/20/champions-league-countdown-1-day-referee-henry-bejarano-officiate-first-leg-thursday">Referee Henry Bejarano to officiate first leg at Children's Mercy Park</a> |
