Seville’s La Cartuja is set to give Mexican supporters an unusual continental reunion on Wednesday, when Porto travel to Real Betis in Champions League Matchday 2. Santiago Giménez and Álvaro Fidalgo could become the first pair of Mexican players to face one another in the competition for four years.
Quick facts
- Real Betis host Porto at La Cartuja on Wednesday, 14 October.
- Kick-off is 13:00 Central Mexico time.
- Santiago Giménez and Álvaro Fidalgo could meet in the Champions League.
- The last Mexican-versus-Mexican Champions League meetings came in October 2022, involving Ajax and Napoli.
- Fox One will carry the match in Mexico.
The previous such encounter came during the 2022-23 group stage, when Edson Álvarez’s Ajax were drawn with Hirving Lozano’s Napoli in Group A alongside Liverpool and Rangers. Napoli won both October meetings, with Lozano scoring in the second fixture.
Ajax hosted the first match at the Johan Cruyff Arena on 4 October 2022. Álvarez and Lozano both started, although neither directly contributed to the scoring as Napoli left Amsterdam with a 6-1 victory.
Six days later, at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, the two Mexico internationals were again in their respective starting line-ups. Lozano opened the scoring in Napoli’s 4-2 win, while Álvarez received a yellow card.
Jorge Sánchez also featured in that return match for Ajax. The defender, now with Atlas, had missed the earlier game through physical discomfort but entered in the 65th minute in place of Youri Baas, unable to prevent another Ajax defeat.
Nearly 30 Mexican footballers have made at least one Champions League appearance over the years, yet direct meetings between compatriots have remained rare. Betis against Porto offers the latest opportunity for that small chapter of Mexico’s European record to resume.
