Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2020 Clausura Preview: Xolos host Club America in Week 3
Credit: Copa MX
Game: Tijuana Xolos vs. Club America
Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico
When: Friday, Jan. 24, 2020
Time: 7:10 P.M. PST
TV: Fox Deportes, Fox Sports 2
The Tijuana Xolos will host Club America at the Estadio Caliente this Friday, Jan. 24, for a game in Week 3of the Liga MX 2020 Clausura. The border city team is coming off a crushing 3-0 defeat against Queretaro away from home and will look to bounce back this week.
Club Tijuana began the season with a 2-1 win against Santos Laguna as the Aztec Canines really fell off in Week 2. The Border City Dogs also played in the Copa MX this past week and defeated Atletico San Luis away from home.
Manager Gustavo Quinteros may want to make some changes to his starting 11 after the defeat in league play to Queretaro. Quinteros could change up his midfield by starting Christian Rivera or Alexis Castro. Omar Mendoza is also likely to replace Vladimir Lorona, who did not have the best performance against Queretaro.
Club America is arguably the most popular team in Mexico, and their appearance will cause some uproar in the border city town. The Estadio Caliente is expected to be sold out on Friday night, as many Americans should make the trip down to the Mictlan.
Las Aguilas lost some key players this offseason, most notably Guido Rodriguez, who was a focal point of the team. Club America opened the season with an impressive 1-0 win against Tigres UANL as Henry Martin scored the game-winner.
Manager Miguel Herrera used a lineup with nine Mexican-born players against Tigres, which is very out of the ordinary for America. It will be interesting to see if “Piojo” switches up his starting 11 as there are some interesting players that were benched against Tigres like Andres Ibarguen and Leonardo Suarez.
Players to Watch
Miller Bolanos
Bolanos has been very quiet at the start of this season and needs to get better to guide Tijuana’s offense. The Ecuadorian playmaker led the league in assists last season and still needs to work on his chemistry with striker Camilo Sanvezzo.
Henry Martin
The Mexican striker scored last week against Tigres UANL and has been very consistent for Las Aguilas in the past few seasons. Martin is mot very technically gifted or very physical, but he finds the spaces to score the goals.
Prediction
EVT predicts a 1-1 draw between Club Tijuana and Club America as the Xoloitzcuintles have the home-field advantage, but the Mexico City team has the better team.
Francisco, 26, Chula Vista/Tijuana. I have been a Padres fan all my life, did most of the series previews and recaps in the Padres’ 2016 season for EVT. Now I focus more on the local soccer scene. Tijuana Xolos, San Diego Loyal, San Diego Wave.