LEÓN, Mexico — Los Angeles Football Club and its supporters who traveled to Mexico are excited for the club’s CONCACAF Champions League debut against León on Tuesday, and while León’s supporters want to see their team win the game, they are looking forward to seeing LAFC’s Carlos Vela play in his homeland as a professional for the first time.

LAFC’s players landed in Mexico on Monday, a day ahead of the first leg of their Round of 16 match. The club’s supporters have been arriving in waves for several days. Approximately 800 LAFC supporters made the trip to central Mexico for the game, but León’s supporters believe LAFC will struggle to match their intensity on and off the pitch.

“León games are always a party. The atmosphere is always amazing, but tomorrow is going to be even more special. It will be similar to how it was when León was in the Copa Libertadores,” said 36-year-old Pablo Reyes, a lifetime fan of León. “There is going to be a caravan of León supporters here tomorrow that will take over the area. León games are always intense but this is an international León game, so it is even more special.”

Vela, who played his entire career in Europe before joining LAFC, has expressed excitement for the opportunity to play in front of Mexican fans for the first time, but it remains to be seen how he will be received by León’s fans when he takes the field in an opposing jersey. Vela’s self-imposed hiatus from the Mexican national team since the loss to Brazil in the Round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup complicates the circumstances around his return, but the LAFC attacker remains a popular figure among Mexican fans.

“Outside of the field, many people in Mexico still love Carlos Vela. He’s a top player and people are coming tomorrow to watch him play,” said León fan Juan Brujas, 35. “We weren’t happy with his decision to leave the Mexican national team. It was frustrating, but I hope out hope that he will return to play for Mexico one day. We are still excited to see him.”

On the field, LAFC and León are very similar squads. Both have high-powered offenses that are always looking to score and midfielders who distribute the ball well. In the stands, despite LAFC’s significant contingent of traveling fans, León fans believe their biggest advantage in the match is the atmosphere that its supporters create.

“Everyone is going to come to watch Leon tomorrow. I want LAFC supporters to see what it means to play at Estadio León. I’m confident in our team and our supporters,” Reyes said. “Champions League will always produce strong opponents, but the surprise will be for the LAFC fans who get to experience the level of support we bring to Estadio León.”