2020–21 F.C. Motagua season

Coach Diego Vásquez renewed his contract, he will be leading the team for his 14th consecutive tournament. After two straight defeats against C.D. Olimpia and Nicaraguan side Real Estelí FC at the 2020 CONCACAF League, F.C. Motagua was unable to qualify to their second straight CONCACAF Champions League.[2] Only one month later, the team was eliminated from domestic contention (Apertura) against Olimpia in the so called "Final de Liguilla" (Playoffs finals).[3]

The 2020–21 home and away kits were published on 25 September, one day before their debut in the Apertura tournament. Unlike previous seasons, no third kit was released.

Manufacturer		Main sponsor
Joma		Pepsi
Home	Away	Alternative	Goalkeeper

All times are local CST unless stated otherwise

Preseason and friendlies

Motagua v Honduras Progreso

19 September 2020 Friendly	Motagua	3–2	Honduras Progreso	Comayagua
16:00	Klusener  48' Vega  50' Crisanto  53' (pen.)		27' Andino  40' Gutiérrez	Stadium: Estadio Carlos Miranda Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Starting XI 19 – Rougier 2 – Montes 6 – Mayorquín 7 – Izaguirre 10 – Galvaliz 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 21 – Moreira 29 – Castillo 34 – López 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 24 – Elvir 5 – Pereira 25 – Licona 4 – Peña 11 – Vega 32 – Núñez 9 – Klusener
Note: This was the first F.C. Motagua's game since March due to the COVID-19 disruption.

Motagua v Génesis Huracán

23 January 2021 Friendly	Motagua	6–1	Génesis Huracán	Tegucigalpa
09:00	Klusener Montes Villafranca Moreira			Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates

Motagua v Broncos

30 January 2021 Friendly	Motagua	9–1	Broncos	Amarateca
	Galvaliz Moreira Klusener Villafranca López Montes			Stadium: Pedro Atala Simón Complex Attendance: Closed gates

Motagua v Olancho

3 February 2021 Friendly	Motagua	2–1	Olancho	Amarateca
	Moreira Galvaliz			Stadium: Pedro Atala Simón Complex Attendance: Closed gates

Motagua v Atlético Independiente

6 February 2021 Friendly	Motagua	3–0	Atlético Independiente	Amarateca
09:00	Martínez Fernández Moncada			Stadium: Pedro Atala Simón Complex Attendance: Closed gates

Apertura

UPNFM v Motagua

26 September 2020 Week 1	UPNFM	2–3	Motagua	Tegucigalpa
19:00	Róchez  27' Moncada  69' (pen.)	Report	7' Castillo  20' Moreira  90+4' Klusener	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Saíd Martínez Starting XI 19 – Rougier 2 – Montes 4 – Peña  74' 7 – Izaguirre  86' 10 – Galvaliz 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 21 – Moreira  79' 29 – Castillo  86' 34 – López 35 – Meléndez  80' Substitutes 8 – Martínez  74' 9 – Klusener  79' 18 – Crisanto  80' 24 – Elvir  86' 11 – Vega  86'
Note: For the first time, F.C. Motagua was allowed to use the temporary five substitutions rule proposed by FIFA in order to lessen the impact of fixture congestion caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A late goal from Gonzalo Klusener in injury time, gave Motagua the first win of the season.

Marathón v Motagua

7 October 2020 Week 2	Marathón	1–2	Motagua	San Pedro Sula
15:00	Banegas  90' (pen.)	Report	71' Vega  83' Méndez	Stadium: Estadio Yankel Rosenthal Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Héctor Rodríguez Starting XI 19 – Rougier 4 – Peña  69' 6 – Mayorquín  46' 8 – Martínez  67' 10 – Galvaliz 17 – Decas 18 – W. Crisanto  69' 21 – Moreira  67' 24 – Elvir 27 – F. Crisanto 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 9 – Klusener  46' 14 – Méndez  67' 11 – Vega  67' 32 – Núñez  69' 15 – Gómez  69'
Note: Midfielder Méndez made his official debut scoring the winning goal.

Motagua v Real Sociedad

11 October 2020 Week 3	Motagua	2–1	Real Sociedad	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Klusener  9' Martínez  22'	Report	32' Olariaga	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Jefferson Escobar Starting XI 19 – Rougier 2 – Montes 3 – Bernárdez  46' 4 – Peña 8 – Martínez  46' 9 – Klusener  65' 10 – Galvaliz  85' 18 – Crisanto  69' 21 – Moreira 24 – Elvir 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 6 – Mayorquín  46' 32 – Núñez  46' 11 – Vega  65' 14 – Méndez  69' 15 – Gómez  85'
Note: Referee Jefferson Escobar officiated a F.C. Motagua's game for his first time. Midfielder Omar Elvir was honored by the club for reaching 300 games with the institution.

Motagua v Olimpia

15 October 2020 Week 4	Motagua	0–0	Olimpia	Tegucigalpa
17:00		Report		Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Nelson Salgado Starting XI 19 – Rougier 2 – Montes 5 – Pereira 6 – Mayorquín  76' 10 – Galvaliz  65' 16 – Castellanos 21 – Moreira  52' 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo  75' 34 – López  65' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 9 – Klusener  52' 8 – Martínez  65' 18 – Crisanto  65' 11 – Vega  75' 4 – Peña  76'
Note: This derby returned to Tegucigalpa after 5 games being played at alternate venues. Midfielder Wilmer Crisanto reached 400 games in Liga Nacional.

Real de Minas v Motagua

18 October 2020 Week 5	Real de Minas	0–3	Motagua	Danlí
17:00		Report	50' Klusener  57' Vega  88' Moreira	Stadium: Estadio Marcelo Tinoco Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Selvin Brown Starting XI 25 – Licona 4 – Peña  46' 7 – Izaguirre 8 – Martínez  67' 9 – Klusener  67' 11 – Vega 12 – Santos 17 – Decas 18 – Crisanto  75' 32 – Núñez  46' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 10 – Galvaliz  46' 16 – Castellanos  46' 6 – Mayorquín  67' 21 – Moreira  67' 34 – López  75'
Note: For the first time, F.C. Motagua played at this venue at night.

Motagua v UPNFM

6 December 2020 Week 6	Motagua	0–1	UPNFM	Tegucigalpa
16:00		Report	11' (pen.) Moncada	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Óscar Moncada Starting XI 25 – Licona 4 – Peña  67' 5 – Pereira 8 – Martínez  46' 9 – Klusener 10 – Galvaliz  66' 12 – Santos 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir 34 – López  61' 35 – Meléndez  46' Substitutes 14 – Méndez  46' 11 – Vega  46' 18 – Crisanto  61' 7 – Izaguirre  66' 16 – Castellanos  67'
Note: Due to the passing of Hurricane Iota, week 6 was postponed. Lobos UPNFM defeated F.C. Motagua for the first time in league's history.

Motagua v Marathón

25 October 2020 Week 7	Motagua	1–1	Marathón	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Klusener  37'	Report	73' Vigil	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Ángel Cruz Starting XI 25 – Licona 5 – Pereira 6 – Mayorquín  76' 7 – Izaguirre  66' 9 – Klusener  65' 14 – Méndez  59' 16 – Castellanos 17 – Decas 29 – Castillo 34 – López 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 10 – Galvaliz  59' 21 – Moreira  65' 24 – Elvir  66' 8 – Martínez  76'
Note: Despite the draw, F.C. Motagua stayed at the top of the standings.

Real Sociedad v Motagua

28 October 2020 Week 8	Real Sociedad	1–5	Motagua	Tocoa
15:00	Melgares  63' (pen.)	Report	20' Castillo  25' Martínez  70' López  74' Vega  89' (pen.) Klusener	Stadium: Estadio Francisco Martínez Durón Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Armando Castro Starting XI 19 – Rougier 4 – Peña  82' 7 – Izaguirre  65' 8 – Martínez  81' 9 – Klusener 12 – Santos 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo  65' 32 – Núñez  65' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 6 – Mayorquín  65' 11 – Vega  65' 34 – López  65' 42 – Álvarez  81' 5 – Pereira  82'
Note: This became the second ever F.C. Motagua's victory at this venue and the largest away win since October 1999 (2–7 v C.D. Federal). Youngster Arnold Álvarez made his debut wearing the jersey number 42.

Olimpia v Motagua

1 November 2020 Week 9	Olimpia	2–1	Motagua	Tegucigalpa
16:00	Bengtson  18' Reyes  86'	Report	90+2' (pen.) Castillo	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Saíd Martínez Starting XI 19 – Rougier 2 – Montes 5 – Pereira 6 – Mayorquín  46' 9 – Klusener  46' 10 – Galvaliz 16 – Castellanos 21 – Moreira  75' 24 – Elvir  80' 34 – López 35 – Meléndez  46' Substitutes 8 – Martínez  46' 12 – Santos  46' 29 – Castillo  46' 4 – Peña  75' 7 – Izaguirre  80'
Note: F.C. Motagua's unbeaten run came to an end with their first league loss since March 2020.

Motagua v Real de Minas

21 November 2020 Week 10	Motagua	2–1	Real de Minas	Tegucigalpa
19:00	López  83' Moreira  90+5'	Report	51' García	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Carlos Cruz Starting XI 19 – Rougier 4 – Peña  81' 5 – Pereira 7 – Izaguirre  46' 8 – Martínez  46' 9 – Klusener 10 – Galvaliz 17 – Decas 21 – Moreira 24 – Elvir 32 – Núñez  46' Substitutes 35 – Meléndez  46' 34 – López  46' 6 – Mayorquín  46' 15 – Gómez  81'
Note: Two late goals allowed F.C. Motagua to achieve a tough win.

Honduras Progreso v Motagua

26 November 2020 Week 11	Honduras Progreso	0–5	Motagua	El Progreso
15:00		Report	12'  24' Castillo  21'  81' Moreira  70' Klusener	Stadium: Estadio Humberto Micheletti Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Marlon Díaz Starting XI 25 – Licona 7 – Izaguirre 8 – Martínez  68' 10 – Galvaliz  59' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos  67' 17 – Decas 21 – Moreira 29 – Castillo  59' 34 – López  46' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 44 – Palacios  46' 9 – Klusener  59' 4 – Peña  59' 32 – Núñez  67' 24 – Elvir  68'
Note: Due to the passing of Hurricane Eta, weeks 11 and 12 were postponed. F.C. Motagua obtained their largest ever victory at this venue. Forward Rubilio Castillo reached 101 goals for the club in all official competitions.

Real España v Motagua

29 November 2020 Week 12	Real España	0–1	Motagua	San Pedro Sula
17:00		Report	44' Klusener Castillo	Stadium: Estadio General Francisco Morazán Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Héctor Rodríguez Starting XI 19 – Rougier 5 – Pereira 8 – Martínez  88' 9 – Klusener  79' 10 – Galvaliz  62' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo 34 – López  78' Substitutes 6 – Mayorquín  62' 21 – Moreira  78' 27 – Crisanto  79' 7 – Izaguirre  88'
Note: Due to the passing of Hurricane Eta, weeks 11 and 12 were postponed. F.C. Motagua defeated Real C.D. España in two consecutive away games for the first time since 1998.

Motagua v Vida

15 November 2020 Week 13	Motagua	3–0	Vida	Tegucigalpa
16:00	López  36' Moreira  42' Klusener  54'	Report		Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Óscar Moncada Starting XI 25 – Licona 4 – Peña  87' 7 – Izaguirre 8 – Martínez  70' 9 – Klusener  87' 16 – Castellanos  67' 17 – Decas 21 – Moreira 32 – Núñez 34 – López  68' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 6 – Mayorquín  67' 42 – Álvarez  68' 15 – Gómez  70' 44 – Palacios  87' 54 – Hernández  87'
Note: Youngsters Danilo Palacios and Andy Hernández made their professional debuts wearing jerseys #44 and #54 respectively. With his goal, forward Roberto Moreira became the all-time foreign goalscorer for F.C. Motagua.

Motagua v Platense

12 December 2020 Week 14	Motagua	5–0	Platense	Tegucigalpa
15:00	Meléndez  23' Castillo  30' (pen.) Castellanos  51' Moreira  75' Peña  85'	Report		Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Melvin Matamoros Starting XI 19 – Rougier 5 – Pereira 8 – Martínez 11 – Vega  69' 16 – Castellanos  73' 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir  73' 29 – Castillo  60' 32 – Núñez 34 – López  60' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 21 – Moreira  60' 27 – Crisanto  60' 10 – Galvaliz  69' 7 – Izaguirre  73' 4 – Peña  73'
Note: Defender Cristopher Meléndez scored his first official goal for the club. F.C. Motagua finished the regular season in 2nd place in their group and qualified to the play-off stage.

Platense v Motagua

17 December 2020 Play-offs	Platense	2–4	Motagua	Puerto Cortés
16:00	Bernárdez  28' Barahona  84'	Report	8'  63' López  23' (o.g.) Martínez  51' Castillo	Stadium: Estadio Excélsior Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Luís Mejía Starting XI 19 – Rougier 5 – Pereira 7 – Izaguirre  71' 8 – Martínez  71' 11 – Vega  74' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 17 – Decas  46' 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo 34 – López  74' Substitutes 35 – Meléndez  46' 6 – Mayorquín  71' 10 – Galvaliz  71' 9 – Klusener  74' 18 – Crisanto  74'
Note: For the first time in league's history, F.C. Motagua was able to register three consecutive wins at Puerto Cortés.

Motagua v Platense

20 December 2020 Play-offs	Motagua	0–1	Platense	Tegucigalpa
16:00		Report	45+1' (pen.) Bernárdez	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Nelson Salgado Starting XI 19 – Rougier 5 – Pereira 9 – Klusener  46' 10 – Galvaliz  46' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo  79' 32 – Núñez  46' 34 – López  72' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 4 – Peña  46' 8 – Martínez  46' 11 – Vega  46' 18 – Crisanto  72' 21 – Moreira  79'
Note: With a 4–3 on aggregate score, F.C. Motagua qualified to the semifinals.

Motagua v Marathón

30 December 2020 Semifinals	Motagua	2–0	Marathón	Tegucigalpa
19:00	Castillo  41' (pen.)  74'	Report		Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Melvin Matamoros Starting XI 19 – Rougier 8 – Martínez 9 – Klusener  72' 10 – Galvaliz  72' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo  81' 34 – López  81' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 7 – Izaguirre  72' 11 – Vega  72' 21 – Moreira  81' 27 – Crisanto  81'
Note: F.C. Motagua and C.D. Marathón will face in semifinals series for the fifth time in history, having won two each in the previous four.

Marathón v Motagua

3 January 2021 Semifinals	Marathón	1–2	Motagua	San Pedro Sula
14:00	Volpi  23' (pen.)	Report	8' Vega  38' López	Stadium: Estadio Yankel Rosenthal Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Héctor Rodríguez Starting XI 19 – Rougier 7 – Izaguirre  75' 8 – Martínez  84' 11 – Vega  66' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo  83' 34 – López  75' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 21 – Moreira  66' 18 – Crisanto  75' 4 – Peña  75' 9 – Klusener  83' 10 – Galvaliz  84'
Note: With a 4–1 on aggregate, F.C. Motagua qualified to their 25th final series in league's history.

Motagua v Olimpia

6 January 2021 Final	Motagua	1–3	Olimpia	Tegucigalpa
19:00	Castillo  48' (pen.)	Report	2' Bengtson  19' Hernández  44' (o.g.) Santos	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Óscar Moncada Starting XI 19 – Rougier 7 – Izaguirre  46' 8 – Martínez 11 – Vega  46' 12 – Santos 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir  72' 29 – Castillo  72' 32 – Núñez  34' 34 – López 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 4 – Peña  34' 9 – Klusener  46' 10 – Galvaliz  46' 21 – Moreira  72' 18 – Crisanto  72'
Note: For the first time in league's history, F.C. Motagua and C.D. Olimpia faced in a series so called "Final de Liguilla" (Playoff Final).

Olimpia v Motagua

10 January 2021 Final	Olimpia	0–0	Motagua	Tegucigalpa
16:00		Report		Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Melvin Matamoros Starting XI 19 – Rougier 4 – Peña 8 – Martínez  59' 10 – Galvaliz  70' 12 – Santos 17 – Decas 21 – Moreira  59' 24 – Elvir 29 – Castillo 34 – López 35 – Meléndez  46' Substitutes 18 – Crisanto  46' 9 – Klusener  59' 14 – Méndez  59' 7 – Izaguirre  70'
Note: With a 1–3 aggregate score, F.C. Motagua failed to advance to the final series.

CONCACAF League

Main article: 2020 CONCACAF League

Motagua v Comunicaciones

22 October 2020 Preliminary round	Motagua	2–2 (15–14 p)	Comunicaciones	Tegucigalpa, Honduras
20:30	Galvaliz  55' López  60'	Report	36' Lezcano  49' Herrera	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Keylor Herrera (CRC) Starting XI 19 – Rougier 2 – Montes 5 – Pereira 8 – Martínez  75' 9 – Klusener  46' 10 – Galvaliz 12 – Santos  73' 16 – Castellanos 21 – Moreira 24 – Elvir 34 – López Substitutes 29 – Castillo  46' 18 – Crisanto  73' 14 – Méndez  75'
	Penalties
	Moreira Crisanto Galvaliz López Castillo Méndez Montes Izaguirre Castellanos Rougier Moreira Crisanto Galvaliz Castillo López Méndez Izaguirre Montes		Contreras Galindo Murillo Lezcano Herrera Mejía Gordillo Grijalva Castrillo Calderón Contreras Galindo Murillo Lezcano Herrera Mejía Gordillo Grijalva
Note: F.C. Motagua and Comunicaciones F.C. decided the match in the longest ever penalty shoot-out in CONCACAF's history.

Alianza v Motagua

4 November 2020 Round of 16	Alianza	1–1 (3–4 p)	Motagua	San Salvador, El Salvador
21:30	Zelaya  80' (pen.)	Report	90+1' Castellanos	Stadium: Estadio Cuscatlán Attendance: Closed gates Referee: John Pitti (PAN) Starting XI 19 – Rougier 2 – Montes 5 – Pereira 6 – Mayorquín  24' 7 – Izaguirre 8 – Martínez  61' 9 – Klusener  61' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 29 – Castillo 34 – López Substitutes 4 – Peña  24' 10 – Galvaliz  61' 21 – Moreira  61'
	Penalties
	Cienfuegos Mercado Blanco Zelaya Tamacas		Moreira Galvaliz Elvir López Castillo
Note: F.C. Motagua qualified to their third straight CONCACAF League quarterfinals after defeating Alianza F.C. in penalty shoot-outs. Goalkeeper Jonathan Rougier, saved two penalties.

Olimpia v Motagua

2 December 2020 Quarterfinals	Olimpia	2–0	Motagua	Tegucigalpa, Honduras
21:15	Núñez  32' Flores  54'	Report		Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Adonai Escobedo (MEX) Starting XI 19 – Rougier 6 – Mayorquín  46' 7 – Izaguirre  69' 10 – Galvaliz  76' 12 – Santos 16 – Castellanos 17 – Decas 21 – Moreira  23' 29 – Castillo 34 – López  70' 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 8 – Martínez  23' 9 – Klusener  46'  63'  81' 24 – Elvir  69' 14 – Méndez  70' 27 – Crisanto  76'
Note: F.C. Motagua and C.D. Olimpia faced in international contention for third time in history, the first two being played back in 1979. With the loss, Motagua failed to qualify to their third straight CONCACAF League semifinals.

Motagua v Real Estelí

9 December 2020 Play-in round	Motagua	2–2 (2–4 p)	Real Estelí	Tegucigalpa, Honduras
21:00	López  37' Galvaliz  52' (pen.)	Report	64' Barrera  89' Mercado	Stadium: Estadio Tiburcio Carías Andino Attendance: Closed gates Referee: Keylor Herrera (CRC) Starting XI 25 – Licona 5 – Pereira 7 – Izaguirre  85' 10 – Galvaliz  80' 11 – Vega 12 – Santos  86' 16 – Castellanos  90+1' 17 – Decas 24 – Elvir 34 – López 35 – Meléndez Substitutes 14 – Méndez  80'  90+1' 6 – Mayorquín  85' 27 – F. Crisanto  86' 4 – Peña  90+1' 18 – W. Crisanto  90+1'
	Penalties
	Crisanto Méndez Elvir Peña		Rosas Rodríguez Acuña López
Note: With the lost on penalty shoot-outs, F.C. Motagua failed to qualify to their second straight CONCACAF Champions League.

• As of 6 February 2021

• Official website