Tijuana Xolos Copa MX 2020 Preview: Xolos host San Luis for quarterfinal berth
Game: Tijuana Xolos vs. Atletico San Luis
Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico
When: Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020
Time: 7:10 p.m. PST
TV: Fox Deportes
The Tijuana Xolos will play the second-leg of their Copa MX round of 16 matchup against Atletico San Luis this Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Estadio Caliente. The Border City Dogs had a great start in this series as Club Tijuana defeated San Luis 1-0 away from home.
The winning goal in that match was scored by new signing Alfonso Sanchez, who has had a decent start, making the jump from the second division. Manager Gustavo Quinteros used an alternate lineup for the first-leg that featured several new signings like Bryan Angulo Christian Rivera.
Some youngsters like 19-year-old Tijuana native Luis Gamiz also played in that game as Quinteros used this game as a way to experiment. The spot in the quarterfinals is far from guaranteed for the Xolos, but it will not be surprising to see Quinteros experiment once again in the second-leg.
Atletico San Luis is widely considered to have one of the weakest rosters in the Liga MX, but new manager Guillermo Vazquez is getting all he can with his squad. San Luis is undefeated so far in league play, coming off a 1-1 draw against Necaxa away from home.
Vazquez also used an alternate squad for the first-leg with some of the standout players being Spanish striker Ian Gonzalez and Spanish defender Matias Catalan.
Players to Watch
Bryan Angulo
Angulo played his first minutes with Club Tijuana in the first leg of this Copa MX matchup. The Ecuadorian striker was one of the most enticing signings this offseason, and it will be interesting to see what he can do in this game.
Ian Gonzalez
Gonzalez has played with San Luis in league play, and it will be interesting to see if “Memo” Vazquez uses him for this match. The Spanish striker has a very good physical presence standing in at 6-foot-2 and can be a menace inside of the penalty area.
Prediction
EVT predicts a 2-1 win for Club Tijuana that would give the border city club a spot in the Copa MX quarterfinals.
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.