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Mexico enter the CONCACAF Nations League (CNL) on Friday, where they will face Honduras in a two-legged battle for a place in the last four in the quarter-finals. Estadio Francisco Morazan will host this match, with home advantage attractive for Reinaldo Rueda and his players against El Tri, who are looking to go one better than last year’s final defeat. Los Catrachos survived the group stage of League B, while the Mexicans entered in this phase. Honduras defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4–0 before losing 2–1 to Jamaica with a narrow win over French Guiana, followed by another draw in Jamaica, beating Nicaragua into second place on goal difference.
Mexico lost 2-0 to the USMNT in their last CNL final, but flopped in this summer’s Copa America and have since regained some confidence. A goalless draw against Ecuador was not enough for a place in the quarter-finals and a 3-0 friendly win over New Zealand was followed by another nil-nil against Canada as Javier Aguirre returned to manage the team. A 2-0 win over Mauricio Pochettino’s USA in October has given them some momentum back and now the Mexicans can aim for the semi-finals, while the success of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup pushes them towards the final.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Friday November 15 | Time: 9:00 PM ET
- Location: Estadio Francisco Morazan-San Pedro Sula, Honduras
- TV: Univision | Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Chances: Honduras +333; Sign +250; Mexico-143
CNL Quarterfinals
Honduras advanced through Group B and reached the knockout rounds, while Mexico still won its first CONCACAF Nations League title at this stage despite reaching the last final. El Tri aims to go five without losses and avenge their painful loss from the last edition.
Team news
Honduras: Rueda should stick with Denil Maldonado and Luis Vega in defense, while Bryan Acosta will look for a return to midfield after Deiby Flores and Kervin Arriaga were paired last time out. Anthony Lozano leads the line with 15 goals from 55 appearances, with Rubilio Castillo, Jorge Benguche and Jorge Alvarez vying to play alongside him.
Possible Honduras XI: Menjivar; Najar, Maldonado, Vega, Rosales; Rivas, Arriaga, Acosta, Rodriguez; Lozano, Benguche.
Mexico: Aguirre remains without Hirving Lozano while Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez was injured in September, so Raul Jimenez will be top with 34 goals from 105 caps. Henry Martin could join Orbelin in supporting Pineda and Cesar Huerta. Andres Guardado earned his final and 180th cap against the US last time out, but Luis Romo was able to slot into midfield alongside captain Edson Alvarez.
Possible Mexico XI: Malagon; Sanchez, Vasquez, Montes, Angulo; Alvarez, Romo; Martin, Pineda, Huerta; Jimenez.
Prediction
Expect this to be tricky for El Tri in places, but for Aguirre’s men to eventually run out winners by a goal or two for a solid lead in the first leg. Choose: Honduras 0, Mexico 2