February 17 – Nashville closed out their highest ever MLS points tally season (54) only to lose in the first round of the play-offs to Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. If they overcome Canada’s Atlético Ottawa in the first round they will meet Miami next.
They qualified for the Champions Cup by beating Austin FC in the US Open Cup final, the first title in club history. This is their second Champions Cup appearance and they will be expecting to build on last season.
Nashville travel to Ottawa for the first leg against the Atlético Madrid-backed team that had an explosive impact in their debut season in the Canadian Premier League. They won the CPL play-off final after extra time to qualify in a season that saw them get stronger and stronger. They are the third CPL team in the Champions Cup and perhaps the one with if the best chance of upsetting the accepted hierarchy of Liga MX and MLS, if they can keep their momentum going.
Two CPL teams – Forge FC and Vancouver FC – have already bowed out after being overcome by Mexican giants Tigres and Cruz Azul.
The Canadian league desperately needs a win and Atlético Ottawa, despite losing their star player David Rodríguez, to Atlético San Luis last season and Minnesota United this, have nevertheless recruited cannily.
Jonantán Villal and Daniel Aguilar join the Atletico project from LigaMX.
Nashville have also recruited and are bringing in marquee signing and San Jose Earthquakes stand-out Cristian Espinosa on a free agency.
Espinoza will reinforce the spine of BJ Callaghan’s Nashville team, built around German midfielder Hany Mukhtar and leading goal scorer Sam Surridge. They combined for 40 goals last season.
This fixture comes at an interesting time for both these relatively new top tier clubs. Atletico Ottawa only debuted in the CPL last season while Nashville have had just five seasons in the MLS. Both have tasted success and are hungry for more as they build fame and legend.
Round 1, first leg, Atlético Ottawa-Nashville SC, TD Place Stadium, Ottawa City, 8pm