Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2020 Clausura Preview: Xolos desperately seek three points vs. Puebla
Game: Tijuana Xolos vs Puebla
Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico
When: Friday, Feb. 28, 2019
Time: 7:10 p.m. PST
TV: Fox Sports 2, ESPN Deportes
The Tijuana Xolos will play their eighth match in the Liga MX 2020 Clausura season this Friday, Feb. 28, against Puebla at the Estadio Caliente. The Xoloitzcuintles are currently in 16th place with just six points and desperately need a win out of this match at home.
Club Tijuana has not won since Week 1 of the tournament and is coming off a disappointing 1-0 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara at home. The Border City Dogs played well against Chivas and were down a man for most of the match as Mauro Lainez picked up an early red card.
Lainez will not be available for this match as it will be interesting to see how manager Gustavo Quinteros sets up his team. Edwin Cardona is a good shout to replace Lainez as he made his debut for Club Tijuana against Chivas and looked great in his limited playing time.
Cardona has the ability to help out this struggling Xolos offense that has only scored more than a goal in a game once this season. Gustavo Quinteros is on thin ice and if the Xolos were to lose this game it is really going to complicate things for the Argentine manager.
Puebla has not had a great season, currently in 14th place with seven points. However, Los Camoteros are coming off a 2-0 win against Toluca.
Puebla only has two wins this season, but has a solid team with talented players like Angel Zaldivar and Osvaldo Martinez. La Franja has been shutout four times this season as the team has struggled to score this year. Puebla manager Juan Reynoso is also on thin ice and it is unclear if a loss in Tijuana will cost his job.
Players to Watch
Edwin Cardona
Cardona looked fantastic off the bench last week against Chivas and has a good chance of starting this match. The Colombian playmaker has great dribbling and passing abilities and also has a good shot on him as well. Cardona has the ability to be the missing link that Xolos has needed this season.
Angel Zaldivar
Zaldivar finally scored his first goal of the season this past week after being very unlucky in past weeks. The Mexican striker has a solid strike on him and is especially good at positioning himself to score.
Prediction
EVT predicts a 1-1 draw in this match as this is set to be a hard-fought match at the Estadio Caliente.
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.