COMMERCE CITY — The Rapids return to CONCACAF Champions League play tonight when they host Santos Laguna, traditionally one of the top teams in Mexico’s Primera Division.
The visitors have been struggling, though. They are off to a slow start (2-3-3) in league play — albeit coming off a draw last weekend with Primera Division leader Guadalajara — and have not played well in Champions League.
Coach Diego Cocca was fired Sept. 3 after the club’s third straight loss. Former U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley was considered for the job, but the club decided against hiring him because of pressure to hire a native coach.
In Champions League play, Santos Laguna struggled to beat Real España of Honduras 3-2 at home, and lost 2-0 on the road to Isidro Metapan of El Salvador. The Rapids beat Metapan here and tied Real España in Honduras.
Santos Laguna’s Aug. 20 game against Morelia at home has been a major story in Mexico because of a shootout between drug gangs and police outside the stadium in Torreon. Fans and players frantically dived for cover and the game was suspended. Two weeks later, six were killed in another battle there between police and drug gangs. Three of those killed were police.
The Rapids will play there Oct. 19 in their final game of group play.
The Rapids lead Champions League Group B with four points. MLS teams lead all four groups, the others being the Los Angeles Galaxy, FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders. Those three teams are 2-0 in Champions League play. Toronto FC of MLS is second in Group C, behind Dallas.
Defender Miguel Comminges, a Mexican whom the Rapids signed Friday, may see action tonight but is unlikely to start.
The Rapids expect the visitors to have a large fan presence at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and have attempted to seat opposing fans on opposite sides of the stadium.
Santos Laguna at Rapids
8 p.m. tonight, CONCACAF game
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
