CCL Schedule Released

Today CONCACAF released the schedule for the group stage of the 2014-2015 Champions League. The group stage kicks off in August and has dates all the way through October. Grouped with Real Esteli and Deportivo Saprissa, Sporting KC will have their hands full in the group.

Sporting KC has the first match day off as Real Esteli will be hosting Saprissa on August 6th as group play kicks off. Sporting's first game in the group comes a few weeks later on August 19th when they'll make their trip to Nicaragua to take on Esteli. Last year Kansas City got goals from Ike Opara and Dom Dwyer in their 2-0 win there. The game is sandwiched between home games between Toronto FC on the 16th and DC on the 23rd.

Kansas City is off on the third match day as Esteli travels to play Saprissa on August 26th.

In September Sporting return to CCL action with both their home games. On September 18th Kansas City host Saprissa. Only five days later, on the 23rd SKC hosts Esteli at Sporting Park. The good news for KC is that they do not have a league game in between those two games, which allows KC to focus on those two games more.

KC closes out the group phase in October in Costa Rica. Sporting travels to the Monster's Cave to take on Saprissa on the 23rd.

Sporting is going to need to get results from both their home games this year, I'm not sure the team can rely on getting wins on the road against both teams again.