The Blues’ opening match in the FC Series Clash of Nations 2022 sees us taking on Club America for the first time since 2009 when goals by Franco Di Santo and Florent Malouda secured a 2-0 win over the Mexican side in a pre-season encounter in Texas.

But what more do we know about the team the Blues will be facing at the Allegiant Stadium?

National and regional giants

After taking on Asian champions Al Hilal and Copa Libertadores holders Palmeiras at the Club World Cup earlier this year, the Blues face another regional giant in Club America, the most decorated club in Mexico and the CONCACAF region.

Formed in Mexico City in 1916 and based at the cavernous and historic Estadio Azteca, Las Aguilas (The Eagles) have won 13 domestic league titles and six Copa Mexico titles.

They have also been crowned CONCACAF club champions a record seven times and went close to claiming another continental title last year when they were edged 1-0 by league rivals Monterrey in the CONCACAF Champions League final.

Season of see-sawing fortunes

The new Liga MX season kicked off earlier this month with Club America seeking a first league title since 2018 following an eventful 21/22 campaign when their fortunes swung wildly under the direction of two Argentinian managers.

They started strongly under Santiago Solari and looked set for glory after finishing six points clear at the top of the Apertura standings and reaching the Champions League final.

However, the loss to Monterrey sparked an alarming slump as the Eagles were then knocked out in the Apertura quarter-finals by 11th placed UNAM before making a woeful start in the Clausura with one win in their opening eight games which left them at the bottom of the 18-team table.

Solari was dismissed and Fernando Ortiz took charge on an interim basis, leading the team on a run of six consecutive wins which lifted them to a respectable fourth place and a run to the Clausura semi-finals.

Returning hero

Despite his Argentinian roots, Ortiz has a connection with Mexican football after playing for Club America and their league rivals Santos Laguna and Tigres UANL during his 16-year career as a centre-back.

He turned to coaching after a knee injury brought an end to his playing career in 2014, and had spells as manager of Paraguayan sides Sol de America and Sportivo Luqueno before taking charge of Club America’s under-20 side earlier this.

Tasked with the first team job after Solari’s sacking in March, the 44-year-old engineered a revival by adopting a more attacking approach which played to the strengths of his players and he was rewarded with a new contract in May which kept him in his position for the 2022/23 season.

Divided attention

While Club America have a series of big matches lined up in the United States against European opponents over the next fortnight, these games come as a bit of a distraction from their Liga MX campaign which has already kicked off.

They haven’t had the best of starts, needing a long-range thunderbolt by Richard Sanchez in stoppage time to see off 10-man Toluca on Wednesday for their first win of the season. That followed an opening goalless draw against defending champions Atlas and a 3-2 loss at Monterrey.

Their domestic season is slated to continue while they are in action in the US with the Eagles scheduled to make a quick trip back across the border on Sunday 24 July to visit Tijuana in between midweek friendlies against Manchester City in Houston and Real Madrid in San Francisco.

Strength between the sticks

Club America were busy in the off-season, adding Uruguayan striker Jonathan Rodriguez and Mexico international defender Nestor Araujo to a talented squad which also includes Mexico internationals Jonathan dos Santos and Jorge Sanchez and Paraguayan stars Bruno Valdez and Richard Sanchez.

However, their most notable is veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa who remains a formidable presence between the posts for the Eagles despite turning 37 earlier this week.

Agile, strong in the air and blessed with sharp reflexes, the veteran goalkeeper has made 129 appearances for Mexico and kept clean sheets for his country against Brazil and Germany at the last two World Cup finals.