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Montreal Impact’s Champions League opponents Deportivo Saprissa emerged unscathed from Sunday’s Clasico Nacional against rivals Alajuelense.
Each side lost a player as early as the eighth minute with the double dismissal of Ugalde (Saprissa) and Lopez (Alajuelense).
Man in form, Christian Bolanos (35) gave Saprissa the lead in the 16th minute, only for Jonathan McDonald to level matters five mins after the break. There was no further scoring in the 10 v 10 encounter.
Midfielder, Bolanos, 79 times-capped by The Ticos, is certainly the man in form for Deportivo. Five goals in eight games in the Clausura, it’s as many as he managed in two seasons and 51 appearances with Vancouver Whitecaps in 2016 and 2017.
A player with over a century of league games plus European ties behind him in Denmark with FC Copenhagen, will be worth the watching for the Impact, who visit Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá in just over one week’s time.
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Deportivo Saprissa has completed 8 rounds of league football this year, are in good form and sit top of the Costa Rican Clausura, one point in front of Herediano, the only side to defeat (4-1) them in league play.
That defeat apart, Depor has won 5 and drawn two of their other seven matches. Sunday’s opponent Alajuelense lie in 4th position, four points behind.