Despite tough travel and punishing weather, the Vancouver Whitecaps know they have the upper hand as they prepare for CONCACAF Champions League play this week.

The team also knows it has to treat the edge in competition with respect.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, we know we have an advantage. But in football, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of surprises,B次元官网网址� midfielder Pedro Vite said via a translator Tuesday. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e seen a lot in the past where a team has a three-goal lead and the other team will come away with the result.

B次元官网网址淪o we have to stay focused on the task at hand. WeB次元官网网址檒l have to keep a sharp head toward their attack and make sure we follow our game plan as well.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址楥aps took a resounding 5-0 victory in the first leg of their round-of-16 matchup against Real CD Espana in Vancouver last week.

The result gives them a big cushion as they head into the back end of the two-game aggregate series in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on Wednesday.

Last weekB次元官网网址檚 result will linger in the playersB次元官网网址� minds, admitted defender Tristan Blackmon, but the Whitecaps must do their best to treat the away game as a fresh opportunity.

B次元官网网址淚 think you have to do your best to treat it like itB次元官网网址檚 0-0. We want to win here. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no other way to look at it,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e treating it as a game we want to win and thatB次元官网网址檚 all weB次元官网网址檙e trying to do here.B次元官网网址�

The five-goal lead that could prove necessary as the club enters hostile territory for the latest outing in a tournament involving the top teams in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

The trip from Vancouver to Honduras was lengthy and, with temperatures expected to hit 33 C around kick off Wednesday, the conditions are far from what the Whitecaps are used to.

Espana also holds a solid home record in CONCACAF play, going 17-5-11 at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano. The club has scored 60 goals and allowed 31.

The Honduran side has quality players and Vancouver needs to be ready for them, said B次元官网网址楥aps head coach Vanni Sartini.

B次元官网网址淚 think we need to be very, very good positionally and not give up anything, especially in our midfield because they can create problems,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he more patient we will be, the more chances we will have to score a goal and get forward on the scoreboard.B次元官网网址�

The Whitecaps face a punishing schedule this month, with WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 outing marking the teamB次元官网网址檚 fourth of five games in 14 days between Major League Soccer play and Champions League competition.

On Saturday, the club battled FC Dallas to a 1-1 draw to earn its first point of the season in league play. After WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game, the B次元官网网址楥aps (0-2-1) will head to California where theyB次元官网网址檒l face the L.A. Galaxy on Saturday.

With the cramped calendar, Sartini opted against bringing some of his usual starters to Honduras.

Attacking midfielder Ryan Gauld will miss WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 game after contributing a pair of assists in last weekB次元官网网址檚 Champions League win. Fellow midfielders Julian Gressel, Alessandro Schopf and Andres Cubas are also back in Canada, alongside defender Ranko Veselinovic.

ItB次元官网网址檚 important to get B次元官网网址渉ungryB次元官网网址� players and fresh bodies into the lineup, Sartini said, especially because a solid start will be key to getting a result against Espana.

B次元官网网址淲e need to not give any hope to the other team from the start,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淪o we need to match their intensity, be ready to go and try to win the game.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press