Game: Tijuana Xolos vs Club America

Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico

When: Saturday, January 13, 2024

Time: 7:00 p.m. PST

TV: TUDN, Univision

The Tijuana Xolos will begin their 2024 Liga MX Clausura campaign this Saturday, January 13, against reigning Liga MX Champs’ Club America at the Estadio Caliente.

Club Tijuana has had a busy offseason with several arrivals and departures at the border city club, including the additions of Joe Corona, Jesus Gomez, and Raul Zuniga. One of the more notable departures was that of Lucas Cavallini, who rejoined Puebla after an unimpressive stint with the Aztec Canines.

Club Tijuana had a dismal 2023 Apertura season, finishing in 15th place and missing out on the playoffs for an eighth consecutive season. Miguel Herrera has complete backing by Tijuana’s front office, but it is hard to imagine “Piojo” staying on as manager if the team is to miss out on the playoffs another season. Herrera himself has made remarks about not having the right players in the past, and the possibility of him resigning if the season does not go as planned is not out of the question either.

This is an important season for both Xolos and Miguel Herrera, who look to bounce back after a very anticlimactic season. It will be interesting to see how Herrera sets his team, but certain players like Antonio Rodriguez, Carlos Gonzalez and Christian Rivera are all locks at this point.

This is a golden opportunity to start the season against a very tough rival with a win for the Aztec Canines, as Club America is set to field an alternate squad for this match. In fact, several key players like Henry Martin, Julian Quinones, and Diego Valdes did not even make the trip to Tijuana and rather stayed in Mexico City to play a friendly match and continue the preseason.

However, some key players like Cristian Calderon, Kevin Alvarez, Richard Sanchez, Alejandro Zendejas, and Luis Angel Malagon did make the trip to the border city. Calderon, who has just joined the club will be an intriguing player in this match, as he is still trying to prove himself after coming over from archrivals Chivas.

Luis Angel Malagon is currently the starting goalkeeper for the Mexico national team, and he will be a tough barrier for Club Tijuana to surpass. However, there will also be a lot of inexperience in this America squad, along with a lack of quality in the attack, left behind in Mexico City. If Club Tijuana is looking to be competitive this season, this is the perfect way to start the year against a Club America team that is incomplete.

Las Aguilas are the Liga MX champions and have that confidence heading into the season, but Club Tijuana needs to take advantage of the positive circumstances they have going in this match.

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.