ATLANTA CONFIRM CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DATES

Atlanta United have confirmed the dates for the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round after the two dates for the tie were confirmed by the MLS football club on Thursday. MLS football giants Atlanta United have a new manager in ex-Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) Gabriel Heinze and the Argentine tactician will begin with a baptismal of fire in the CONCACAF Champions League.

Since he ended his playing career, Gabriel Heinze has ventured into management and his managerial experience had been limited to just his native Argentina before MLS football club Atlanta United approached him over the vacant managerial position at the club.

Gabriel Heinze will start his reign as the Atlanta United with a team from Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Champions League in April. The ex-Argentine utility player will lead his team out for the first leg against LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica on April 6 before the second leg a week later in Atlanta on April 13. The Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round first leg meeting between CD Alajuelense and MLS football giants Atlanta United will take place at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Costa Rica before the second leg at the legendary Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The first leg in Costa Rica is at 6pm EST, while the return leg is at 8pm EST.

In the history of the CONCACAF Champions League, Atlanta United have never gone beyond the quarterfinals but Gabriel Heinze would be hoping to break that unwanted record at the club. They will qualify for the quarterfinals if they see of their Costa Rican opponents in the preliminary round. Atlanta United will face DeportivaSaprissa or fellow MLS football team Philadelphia Union in the quarterfinals if they see off CD Alajuelense in the preliminary round. The quarterfinals for this season will take place in late April and early May, while the semi-finals have been set for August and September, while the single leg final will take place between October 26 and 28.