Brotherly Game Daily Links: Are the 2021 Union good enough for an encore of 2020?

Philadelphia Union News

Przybylko available for first Champions League match but fitness still a question mark
Head coach Jim Curtin said he’ll be able to field a strong lineup for Wednesday’s game but fitness remains a question.

An analysis of the Union’s roster at the start of the 2021 season
Here’s a look at where each of the Union’s players stands on the depth chart at their position before the season starts Wednesday.

A year after winning their first trophy, are the Union good enough for an encore?
The Union have become a top developer of young talent. But many of the world’s top developers also win lots of trophies — especially the team that’s the Union’s model. So it’s time for the next step.

MLS News

Ranking MLS teams’ chances of winning 2021 Concacaf Champions League
Before we start the march to elimination, here are the five MLS clubs the Mexican giants will have to get through in order of who has the best chance of falling agonizingly short in the most painful way possible!

FC Cincinnati files tampering charges with MLS over contact of Frankie Amaya
The Athletic on Tuesday reported FC Cincinnati filed with MLS tampering charges relating to the Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls and their reported pursuits of Amaya.

Concacaf News

Timbers draw CD Marathon 2-2 in Honduras
Portland earned two away goals in the first leg of their CCL matchup against the Honduran side.

Atlanta wins first leg of CONCACAF Champions League Round of 16 vs. Alajuelense
Rocco Rios Novo, the 18-year-old goalkeeper and aforementioned soccer child called upon to replace Guzan in goal, signed a Short-Term Agreement the day before the first leg. The young goalkeeper played a crucial role in seeing out the win, making a club record six CONCACAF Champions League saves over the course of his first team debut.

Cruz Azul start CONCACAF Champions League with terrible draw against Arcahaie FC
Cruz Azul had a very poor performance as they failed to create much danger, and although they had almost complete control of the possession they couldn’t break through a Haitian side that “bunkered” all game and defended well. 

Paramount+’s ambitious plans for soccer include more acquisitions
When ViacomCBS acquired the rights to the UEFA Champions League earlier than anticipated in the summer of 2020, few soccer fans could have predicted at the time that CBS Sports would go on a acquisition spree to make Paramount+ a major destination for soccer coverage.

Rest of the World News

UCL Rewind: Man City edges Dortmund, Real Madrid downs Liverpool
Manchester City received a surprisingly tough test from out-of-form visitors Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League quarterfinals first leg, but did enough to scrap by with a 2-1 victory.