Tijuana Xolos Copa MX AP 2018 Week 6 Preview: Xolos Seek Better Seeding Heading Into Playoffs
Credit: Imago7
Game: Toluca vs Tijuana Xolos
When: Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018
Where: Estadio Nemesio Diez, Toluca, Mexico
Time: 7:00 P.M. PST
TV: ESPN 2 (Mexico)
The Tijuana Xolos will play their final game in the Copa MX 2018 Apertura group stage this Wednesday, Sept. 5, away from home at the Estadio Nemesio Diez against Toluca. The Aztec Canines recently snapped a six-game winless streak in the Liga MX with a 1-0 win against Necaxa, but have looked much better in this Copa MX competition.
Club Tijuana is undefeated in the Copa MX with wins against FC Juarez and Toluca at home and a draw against Juarez away from home. The Border City Dogs are coming off a dominant 3-1 win against FC Juarez at the Estadio Caliente and will look to keep their good form going.
With no Liga MX game on the weekend due to the international break, Diego Cocca may use a very strong lineup. The Argentine manager will be without Gibran Lajud, Miller Bolanos and Jesus Angulo as they all received callups to their respective national teams. Still, Cocca will have players like Fabian Castillo, Eryc Castillo, Erick Torres and Juan Martin Lucero to work with.
The Xoloitzcuintles have already secured their place in the Copa MX knockout stage, but will be looking to get a higher seeding for the playoffs. Diego Cocca’s team is currently the eighth seed, but could improve even to the top seed with a sizeable victory against Toluca. Any win would catapult Club Tijuana to the fourth seed and a draw would improve the team to the seventh seed.
Toluca has been one of the worst teams in this competition currently dead last in Group 2 with just a point and should struggle in this match. Manager Hernan Cristante has not taken much importance to the tournament and has been using several youth players and reserves.
The Argentine boss is likely to do this again as there is not anything to play for in this match, even if it is at home. A very poor attendance is expected and Toluca’s home-field advantage will not be as key at night as it is in the middle of the day for Liga MX matches. Los Diablos Rojos fell 2-0 to the Aztec Canines the first time the two met in the Copa MX and may suffer a similar fate in this match.
Prediction
The Xolos will visit the Estadio Nemesio Diez, which they have historically struggled in, but should have the upper hand with the better form in this tournament. EVT Predicts a 2-1 for the Border City Dogs in a game that could be hard-fought and entertaining in Toluca.
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.