Monterrey to open Champions LeagueNEW YORK - Two-time defending champion Monterrey will open the CONCACAF Champions League at home against Chorrillo of Panama on July 31, while Herediano of Costa Rica will host Real Salt Lake.
The complete group schedule announced Friday has Mexican Clausura champion and last-season's Champions League runner-up Santos Laguna beginning its schedule in the second full week of play, opening at home against Aguila of El Salvador on August 21.
Toronto FC will face Santos in a rematch of their semifinal series on August 28 at BMO Field and then again in Torreon, Mexico, in the final week on October 24.
The Group Stage will conclude a day later with Chivas de Guadalajara facing Xelaju of Guatemala, and Isidro Metapan of El Salvador against the LA Galaxy.
Unlike in the first four years, the Champions League has been reformatted this season with eight groups of three teams each instead of four, four-team groups. Only the group winners will advance to the knockout quarterfinals.
CONCACAF Champions League (Group Stage)
* - All times U.S. Eastern; home team listed first.Week 1Tuesday, July 31CF Monterrey (MEX) vs. Chorrillo (PAN), 8 p.m.
CS Herediano (CRC) vs. Real Salt Lake, 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 1Toronto FC (CAN) vs. CD Aguila (SLV), 8 p.m.
Isidro Metapan (SLV) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 10 p.m.
Tigres UANL (MEX) vs. Real Esteli (NCA), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 2W Connection (TRI) vs. Xelaju (GUA), 8 p.m.
CD Olimpia (HON) vs. CD FAS (SLV), 10 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. Caledonia AIA (TRI), 10 p.m.
Week 2Tuesday, August 21Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. CD Aguila (SLV), 8 p.m.
Real Salt Lake (USA) vs. Tauro FC (PAN), 10 p.m.
Xelaju MC (GUA) vs. CD Guadalajara (MEX), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 22Caledonia AIA (TRI) vs. CD Marathon (HON), 8 p.m.
LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs. Tigres UANL (MEX), 10 p.m.
CD FAS (SLV) vs. Houston Dynamo (USA), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 23Chorrillo (PAN) vs. CSD Municipal (GUA), 8 p.m.
LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Isidro Metapan (SLV), 10 p.m.
Week 3Tuesday, August 28Toronto FC (CAN) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 8 p.m.
Real Esteli (NCA) vs. LD Alajuelense (CRC), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 29CD Guadalajara (MEX) vs. W Connection (TRI), 8 p.m.
LA Galaxy (USA) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR), 10 p.m.
Municipal (GUA) vs. Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m.
Thursday, August 30Tauro FC (PAN) vs. CS Herediano (CRC), 8 p.m.
Caledonia AIA (TRI) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 8 p.m.
CD Olimpia (HON) vs. Houston Dynamo (USA), 10 p.m.
Week 4Tuesday, September 18Tauro FC (PAN) vs. Real Salt Lake (USA), 8 p.m.
Xelaju MC (GUA) vs. W Connection (TRI), 10 p.m.
Real Esteli (NCA) vs. Tigres UANL (MEX), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, September 19Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 8 p.m.
CD Aguila (SLV) vs. Santos Laguna (MEX), 10 p.m.
CD Marathon (HON) vs. Seattle Sounders (USA), 10 p.m.
Thursday, September 20Houston Dynamo (USA) vs. CD FAS (SLV), 8 p.m.
CSD Municipal (GUA) vs. Chorrillo FC (PAN), 10 p.m.
Week 5Tuesday, September 25 CF Monterrey (MEX) vs. CSD Municipal (GUA), 8 p.m.
CD Aguila (SLV) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 10 p.m.
CS Herediano (CRC) vs. Tauro FC (PAN), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, September 26W Connection (TRI) vs. CD Guadalajara (MEX), 8 p.m.
CD Marathon (HON) vs. Caledonia (TRI), 10 p.m.
LD Alajuelense (CRC) vs. Real Esteli (NCA), 10 p.m.
Thursday, September 27Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR) vs. Isidro Metapan (SLV), 8 p.m.
CD FAS (SLV) vs. CD Olimpia (HON), 10 p.m.
Week 6Tuesday, October 23Houston Dynamo (USA) vs. CD Olimpia (HON), 8 p.m.
Real Salt Lake (USA) vs. CS Herediano (CRC), 10 p.m.
Chorrillo (PAN) vs. CF Monterrey (MEX), 10 p.m.
Wednesday, October 24Santos Laguna (MEX) vs. Toronto FC (CAN), 8 p.m.
Seattle Sounders (USA) vs. CD Marathon (HON), 10 p.m.
Tigres UANL (MEX) vs. LD Alajuelense (CRC), 10 p.m.
Thursday, October 25CD Guadalajara (MEX) vs. Xelaju MC (GUA), 8 p.m.
Isidro Metapan (SLV) vs. LA Galaxy (USA), 10 p.m.
SOURCE - CONCACAF.COM