Tijuana Xolos Liga MX 2020 Clausura Preview: Xolos visit sister-club Queretaro
Game: Queretaro vs Tijuana Xolos
Where: Estadio Corregidora, Queretaro, Mexico
When: Sunday, Jan.19, 2020
Time: 2:00 P.M. PST
TV: TUDN
The Tijuana Xolos will travel to the Estadio Corregidora to face Queretaro in their Week 2 Clausura 2020 matchup. The Border City Dogs began their season with an impressive 2-1 win against Santos Laguna at the Estadio Caliente.
Camilo Sanvezzo and Mauro Lainez led the Xoloitzcuintles to the three points with their goals as new manager Gustavo Quinteros had a nice start to his Liga MX career. Quinteros was not reluctant to start the Xolos’ new signings as Leandro Gonzalez-Pirez and Emilio Sanchez both started the match.
Miguel Barbieri and Christian Rivera, who were also brought in this transfer window, came off the bench as well. Quinteros is obviously still looking for his ideal starting lineup, but it will be odd to see any changes to his starting 11 against Queretaro.
Queretaro is the newest member of the Grupo Caliente family as the Xolos’ owners invested in the team this offseason. Los Gallos Blancos made the playoffs last season, but began the new campaign with a rough 3-1 loss to Leon.
Former Xolos winger Fabian Castillo scored the lone goal of the game for Queretaro as he is not the only former Xolos player on the team. Ariel Nahuelpan, Antonio Nava and Julian Velazquez were all transferred to Los Gallos Blancos this offseason from Club Tijuana.
Los Queretanos lost some key players this transfer window like Jesus Alonso Escoboza and Luis Romo. But are still under the leadership of very experienced manager Victor Manuel Vucetich, who is considered one of the best Liga MX coaches of all time.
This will not be an easy game for the Xoloitzcuintles, especially considering that it is away from home. The past two Xolos managers (Oscar Pareja and Diego Cocca) have struggled heavily on the road and Gustavo Quinteros will be looking to change that.
Players to Watch
Camilo Sanvezzo
Sanvezzo played with Queretaro from 2014-2019 and scored over 50 goals with Los Gallos Blancos in that span. The Brazilian striker was a letdown last season, but started the 2020 Clausura in the best way possible with a goal in the season-opener. However, Sanvezzo also missed plenty of scoring opportunities in that match and will be looking to improve against his former team.
Fabian Castillo
Castilo is on the opposite end of Sanvezzo as he is currently on Queretaro and will face his former team Club Tijuana. The Colombian winger was an instrumental component of Queretaro’s team last season and began the new campaign with a goal in Week 1.
Prediction
EVT predicts a 2-2 draw in this match as this has the potential to be a high-scoring clash given that the two teams have inconsistent defenses.
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.