Game: Tijuana Xolos vs Necaxa

Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico

When: Friday, April 5, 2024

Time: 8:10 p.m. PST

TV: TUDN, VIX

The Tijuana Xolos will play their 14th game in the Liga MX 2024 Clausura season this Friday, April 5, against Necaxa at the Estadio Caliente.

The Border City Dogs are coming off a rough 2-0 away loss to Mazatlan and are now on a 15-game winless streak dating to last season. The Aztec Canines’ last win in any match, including non-official games, came against Necaxa in a friendly match back on January 6, 2024.

However, the last official match between Club Tijuana and Necaxa resulted in a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Victoria back on July 7, 2023. There is no relegation  to worry about in Liga MX anymore, but if the bad results continue for Xolos it can potentially cost the club a fine upwards of $5 million.

The Border City side already paid a fee of nearly $3 million two seasons ago and will be looking to avoid this significant deficit at all costs. Generating scoring play continues to be a massive problem for the Xoloitzcuintles, recently not being able to surpass a very inconsistent Mazatlan backline.

Necaxa has been one of, if not the biggest surprise, in this Liga MX 2024 Clausura tournament, currently in seventh place with 21 points. Los Rayos are coming off a 2-1 loss to Leon, but previously won two-consecutive games against Cruz Azul and Atletico San Luis.

Colombian striker Diber Cambindo has been one of the best players for Necaxa, currently with six goals scored and three assists on the campaign. Necaxa has also been led by a solid backline, captained by Alexis Pena, who recently received consideration for the Mexican national team but did not end up making the final cut. Some of the younger players on the team like Heriberto Jurado and Riacrdo Monreal, who has five assists on the year, have also been standouts.

The team from Aguascalientes are the favorites heading into this match and are led by head coach Eduardo Fentanes, who may deploy a more counter-attacking style of play, depending on Miguel Herrera’s tactics. Both teams need the three points from this game for two very distinct reasons, but Club Tijuana needs to act fast to try and not make this season any worse than it already has been.

Francisco Velasco

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.