Tijuana Xolos Copa MX Preview: Xolos start Copa MX campaign against Queretaro
Game: Tijuana Xolos vs Queretaro
Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico
When: Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Time: 7:00 P.M. PST
TV: Fox Deportes
The Tijuana Xolos will start their 2019-2020 Copa MX campaign this Tuesday, July 30, as the Aztec Canines will host Queretaro at the Estadio Caliente. The Copa MX has changed its format this season as the group stage will be played in this 2019 Apertura season while the knockout stage will be played until the 2020 Clausura.
The Xoloitzcuintles recently played Queretaro in Week 2 of the Liga MX this past Saturday as that game ended in a 1-1 draw. Club Tijuana wasted several scoring opportunities in that match and will need to improve in that department to get a win in this clash.
Manager Oscar Pareja is highly likely to use an alternate lineup for this match as several players are fatigued after a string of games to start the season. Backups like Erick Torres and Angel Sepulveda are some of the standouts that can feature in the game as well as some youngsters like Antonio Nava.
Queretaro played well on Saturday night and produced enough scoring opportunities to come away with a win. Los Gallos Blancos are off to a solid start in the season with four points from two games, but are also likely to field an alternate squad.
Manager Victor Manuel Vucetich has players like Clifford Aboagye, Jordi Cortizo and Enrique Triverio that were on the bench on Saturday night. While Queretaro has plenty of offensive options on the bench and reserves there are not a plethora of alternate options for the backline and that can prove to be a serious issue for this match.
Players to Watch
Angel Sepulveda
The Mexican forward scored off the bench in Tijuana’s Week 1 matchup against Puebla and nearly scored against Queretaro on Saturday night. The 28-year-old is one of Oscar Pareja’s top options off the bench and it will be interesting to see what he can do in this match.
Enrique Triverio
Triverio is just coming to Queretaro from Toluca and can eventually slide into the starting 11 for Victor Manuel Vucetich. The Argentine striker has scored 26-career goals in the Liga MX with Toluca and is a traditional target man that has very good finishing.
Prediction
EVT predicts a 2-1 win for the Xolos as the home-field advantage can prove to be the difference-maker in a match like this.
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.