COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two players who play their club soccer in La Liga made Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio's starting XI to face the United States, next to expected starters like star forward Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and center back Hector Moreno.
Diego Reyes, a defender for Espanyol, and Carlos Vela, a forward for Real Sociedad are in Osorio's team to open the final round of World Cup qualification Friday.
Goalkeeper Alfredo Talavera gets the start, as Osorio hinted when he said before the match that he's concerned about the United States' aerial game. Rafa Marquez, who started in Mexico's first-ever defeat in Columbus in 2001 returned to the starting XI after missing out on the 2013 edition.