Tigres UANL at TFC: Storylines to watch

Three more things you should know ahead of Wednesday night’s opener of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal between Toronto FC and Mexico’s Tigres UANL at BMO Field (8 p.m., TSN2):

VAZQUEZ WATCH: Spanish midfielder Victor Vazquez was pulled from TFC’s home opener on Saturday in the 46th minute, suffering from a nerve problem in his back that causes excessive tightness in his legs. The 31-year-old Vazquez, who has valuable experience playing in Mexico, made it through a training session Tuesday, but his status for the match will depend on how his body responds after, according to coach Greg Vanney. Vazquez missed just four of 43 games last year, and the Reds went 1-3-0 without him.

HOME FIELD: Toronto FC is looking for its first home win of 2018, after tying Colorado in the Champions League round of 16 and losing their MLS season opener to the Columbus Crew. Now that they’re used to the cold weather and soft, bumpy playing surface, it could be an advantage. The forecast for

Wednesday’s kickoff was 1C with a 70 per cent chance of precipitation.

GUARDING GIGNAC: French striker Andre-Pierre Gignac will be a handful for Toronto FC’s defence. The Tigres forward, with seven goals in 10 games this year, is a master at finding space in the box and finishing in a variety of ways. “We have to be heightened in our awareness,” says coach Greg Vanney. “We have to be collective in how we defend. We can’t get separated and split apart.”