In this edition of Oppo Research, Hudson River Blue spoke with Francisco Villalobos of Televisa to learn more about Club León, New York City FC's opponent on Friday night at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Here is your NYCFC vs León preview.
• League Form (All Comps): D-L-W-L
• Record: 1W, 0D, 2L | 3 points, 16th place
• Scoring Leader (All Comps): James Rodríguez and Rogelio Funes Mori, 1 goal
• Assist Leader (All Comps): James Rodríguez, 1 assist
1. Club León has had a rough last few months
Hudson River Blue: Club León had a rough start to the Apertura season, winning just one of its first three games, scoring two goals, and conceding five. What isn’t working for León right now?
Francisco Villalobos: Club León has been in a continued downslide since they ended their winning streak and momentum thereof, in week five of last season. Since then, they not only became practically irrelevant during the remainder of the season and the Liguilla, but, making matters worse, FIFA ruled against them regarding their participation in the Club World Cup this summer. This was a blow both to the fans and to the ownership, as participating in FIFA’s renewed tournament was one of the most important, if not the most important, incentives to sign James Rodríguez.
Hudson River Blue Staff
2. León is likely out of Leagues Cup
HRB: León’s struggles carried into its Leagues Cup opener, losing to CF Montréal — the worst team in the Eastern Conference of MLS — on penalties after drawing 1-1 in regulation. Do you think León could still advance to the quarterfinals of Leagues Cup?
FV: They'd better, unless they want to add more to their misery. Qualifying for the quarterfinals of Leagues Cups is the only way they could aspire to be part of the next Club World Cup. However, the format of this very weird tournament has many of the coaches upset, but they are muted, as if they speak badly about the format, or the tournament, they would be fined $50,000.
Andrew Leigh
3. Look out for James Rodríguez
HRB: James Rodríguez joined León in January but he hasn’t looked his old self at times, totaling nine goal contributions in 21 games. What impact has Rodríguez made at León? And how will he affect the number of fans attending Friday’s game?
FV: What impact does Lionel Messi have on attendance throughout the MLS when he plays, and when he does not? James Rodríguez is no Messi, has never been, nor will he ever be. However, he does constitute León's main attraction. James Rodríguez's participation is vital to generating revenue both for León and for this tournament, which gets little to no coverage here in the United States, in most of the country's television outlets.
The stars in León, Monterrey, Miami, and Club América will be fundamental to generating the revenue that the participating teams, MLS, and Mexican Soccer Federation aspire to. James Rodríguez is not the James Rodríguez of Brazil 2014 — he will never be that James Rodríguez. But the sparks of his greatness are still enough to be relevant in Liga MX and certainly in MLS.
Oliver Strand
4. The X-Factor: Hunger
HRB: What's the X-factor that could decide this game?
FV: Hunger, that would be the difference, who wants it more. It's do or die for León and New York. Period. Neither team can lose. Whoever is the hungriest, the one who wants it more, will be the one who will win.
Hudson River Blue Staff
5. Predicted score, Starting XI
HRB: Prediction time: Starting XI? Final score?
FV: NYCFC win in penalties.
