The Tijuana Xolos visited Toluca for a game in the 2026 Liga MX Clausura this Friday, February 13.

Club Tijuana was undefeated this season heading into this match, but the odds were stacked against the current Liga MX champs.

Despite being undefeated, the Border City Dogs were on a three-game winless streak heading into this game. Offensive consistency has been a real problem for Xolos in this campaign, with two shutouts in five games before this match against Toluca.

Those offensive struggles continued in this game against the joint-best defense in the Liga MX. Despite being shut down by Puebla at home, manager Sebastian Abreu repeated the same starting 11 used in that game against Toluca.

👹🔴 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐋 𝐃𝐎 𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐀 🔴👹

SEMPRE TEM GOL DELE! PAULINHO abre o placar para os Diablos Rojos

E que domínio do Marcel Ruiz, hein! 😮‍💨

🔴 TOLUCA 1×0 Tijuana ⚫#LigaMXBrasil pic.twitter.com/irgV3YYzQV

— LIGA MX BRASIL 🇲🇽🇧🇷 (@LigaMexicanaBR) February 14, 2026

The biggest surprise was seeing Alan Vega start the game on the bench for a second consecutive week. Vega adds plenty of offensive prowess going forward in the left-back slot, and it was surprising to see Pablo Ortiz start.

Toluca has been dealing with key injuries, but the starting 11 put on the field was still clearly better in quality than the visitors.

The first half of this clash was very slow-paced paced with Club Tijuana not offering much of a challenge to Los Diablos Rojos. Los Escarlatas controlled 67 percent possession in the opening 45 minutes and came away with the opening goal.

Franco Romero launched a perfect ball from the middle of the park to Marcel Ruiz on the left flank. Ruiz crossed the ball directly to Paulinho, who had no trouble scoring the lone goal of the game in the 21st minute.

Club Tijuana tried to fight back in the second half, battling more for possession, but did very little with the sphere. Sebastian Abreu made two changes at the start of the half, bringing on Alex Gomez and Domingo Blanco for Ramiro Arciga and Ignacio Rivero.

While Club Tijuana managed to test opposing goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez in the second half, Toluca never seemed uncomfortable in this match. Antonio Mohamed’s side seemed to have full rein of this encounter and walked away with the three points rather easily.

Sebastian Abreu’s son, Diego Abreu, played 14 minutes off the bench and, just like in his Liga MX debut, failed to record a single shot. Josef Martinez also failed to record a shot off the bench as the Venezuelan striker has been disappointing since joining the club, with no goals in four games.

The Xoloitzcuintles seem to have found defensive solidity with Abreu at the helm, limiting the Liga MX champs to just one goal here. However, the offense continues to be heavily unreliable, shutout now for a second consecutive match.

Club Tijuana will have a golden opportunity to score some goals in its next match, hosting Mazatlan FC at the Estadio Caliente on February 21. Xolos will have consecutive home games, also hosting Pumas UNAM at the Mictlan on February 27.

Francisco Velasco

Francisco, 28, 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 FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.