Tijuana Xolos 2019 Apertura Preview: Xolos host Cruz Azul for midweek clash
Credit: Mexsport
Game: Tijuana Xolos vs Cruz Azul
Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico
When: Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019
Time: 7:06 P.M. PST
TV: FS1, Fox Deportes
The Tijuana Xolos will host Cruz Azul at the Estadio Caliente this Wednesday, Aug.28. for a game in Week 7 of the Liga MX 2019 Apertura. The Xolos just played this past weekend and will have another league game in the upcoming weekend as the arduous schedule of the Liga MX sets in.
The Xoloitzcuintles are coming off a disappointing 2-0 loss to Toluca as striker Camilo Sanvezzo inclusively received a red card in that game and will not be available for this match. The likely candidates to replace Sanvezzo in Wednesday’s clash include Angel Sepulveda and Mauro Lainez.
Despite the loss, manager Oscar Pareja is unlikely to make extreme changes to his lineup. Young fullback Vladimir Lorona did get the start against Toluca, but veteran Omar Mendoza may slot back into Pareja’s XI.
The Xolos are currently in 14th place with seven points at the time of writing and really need to get a win, having lost two of their last three league games.
Cruz Azul is also not in an ideal position, currently in ninth place with nine points, but the Mexico City team is currently on a three-game undefeated streak in league play. La Maquina is coming off a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Puebla over the weekend and enjoyed a dominant 3-1 away win against Atlas in Week 5.
Los Cementeros are title contenders this season,but are behind teams like Monterrey, Club America and Tigres UANL. Los Celestes have a very orderly manager in Pedro Caixinha and also have a well-balanced squad from top to bottom.
The backline is a strong suit of the team with the centre-back partnership of Julio Cesar Dominguez and Pablo Aguilar and the midfield may be the strongest component of the team with players like Yoshimar Yotun, Orbelin Pineda and Elias Hernandez.
However, the attack can be very inconsistent with just seven goals scored this season, which is the second lowest in the league of teams currently placed from first to 11th.
Players to Watch
Ariel Nahuelpan
Nahuelpan is a force in the air with his physical presence and he definitely has a physical advantage to Julio Cesar Dominguez and Pablo Aguilar. Without Camilo Sanvezzo in the Xolos’ starting XI for this game, the Argentine striker will need to step up his game and take more charge in the offense.
Yoshimar Yotun
Yotun is arguably Cruz Azul’s most talented player as the Peruvian controls the midfield as he goes up and down the pitch. The Peru international can be a great playmaker, but is also an engine and will leave everything on the pitch in every match.
Prediction
EVT predicts a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Caliente as this is set to be a very hard-fought match and it will be tough for the Xoloitzcuintles even with the home-field advantage.
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.