Santos Laguna kicks off 2022 after successful preseason

The quest for a first ever Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League title for Santos Laguna will continue in 2022 with the Laguneros set to make their seventh appearance in the tournament, according to Concacaf.

It said Santos Laguna’s journey in Concacaf begins on Feb. 15 when they host the first leg of their Round of 16 series versus CF Montreal in a rematch of Santos’ dramatic 5-4 aggregate victory over the Canadians in the 2008-09 SCCL quarterfinals. 

On the domestic front, Santos kick off the Liga MX season this Saturday at home against Tigres UANL in what will be the start of a very busy spring season for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 SCCL runners-up, Concacaf said. 

“Santos should be prepared for both their domestic season opener and their first-round tie against CF Montreal after a very successful preseason in which they played four friendlies,” it said. 

Concacaf said it started on Dec. 18 against Mineros de Zacatecas with a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Brian Lozano, Ayrton Preciado and Ignacio Jeraldino. 

Five days later, on Dec. 23, Santos returned to the field of play with a pair of 60-minute tune-up matches against Correcaminos, the first ending in a 1-1 draw and Lozano notching his second goal of the winter break, Concacaf said. 

It said the second contest saw the Santos defense “batten down the hatches in a 1-0 win courtesy of a goal from Omar Campos.” 

Concacaf said another two 60-minute friendlies were on the docket on Dec. 27 against fellow Liga MX side Queretaro and what followed were another two positive results for the Torreon club. 

Ronaldo Prieto scored off a Juan Otero pass to complete a 1-0 win, while in the second scrimmage the teams battled to a 1-1 draw, with Eduardo Aguirre scoring for Santos, Concacaf said. 

It said the fourth and final friendly of the winter break was another two 60-minute matches against Atletico de San Luis. 

Campos notched his second goal of the preseason in a 1-1 draw to open things, while a 2-0 defeat marked the second contes, Concacaf said.

“Overall, it was a very productive preseason for Head Coach Pedro Caixinha, with many young players getting a taste of first-team action to start what will be a very busy first half of the year for the club,” it said.