Cruz Azul Hosts Vancouver FC in Champions Cup Second Leg
Defending champion Cruz Azul faces Vancouver FC in the second leg of the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup first round on Friday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, with the Mexican powerhouse holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the opening match.
Match Details
The match kicked off at 1:00 AM UTC on February 13, 2026, at Estadio Azteca stadium in Mexico City. Cruz Azul enters the contest as heavy favorites following their dominant performance in Langley, British Columbia, where they claimed a 3-0 victory on February 4.
First Leg Recap
In the opening contest, Cruz Azul put on a clinical display of attacking prowess. José Paradela opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, followed by Amaury Morales’ goal in the 44th minute just before halftime. AgustÃn Palavecino sealed the commanding victory with a goal in the 65th minute, giving the defending champions complete control heading into Mexico City.
Team Performance and Confidence
Goalkeeper Emmanuel Ochoa recorded a clean sheet in his Cruz Azul debut, making crucial saves including a stop on a bicycle kick attempt. The team remains unbeaten in their last nine matches against Canadian opponents in the Champions Cup, with seven wins and two draws in that stretch.
Looking Forward
With a three-goal cushion and home advantage, Cruz Azul is favored to advance to the Round of 16. Data analysis suggests a Cruz Azul victory has a probability of approximately 64.18%, while a draw sits at 21.99% and a Vancouver FC win at 13.8%.
The winner on aggregate advances to face other first-round victors in the next stage of the championship.
