Game: Tijuana Xolos vs Leon

Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico

When: Sunday, March 3, 2024

Time: 7:00 p.m. PST

TV: TUDN

The Tijuana Xolos will play their 10th game in the Liga MX 2024 Clausura this Sunday, March 3, against Leon at the Estadio Caliente.

Club Tijuana is still winless after nine games played this season but has only lost one game out of their last four, as the team’s momentum has been rising as of late.

The Border City Dogs are coming off a surprising 1-1 draw against Monterrey, who are one of the clear-cut title candidates in this 2024 Clausura. San Diego native Joe Corona scored the lone goal of the match for the Aztec Canines in that clash, and Xolos had the potential to take the three points against Rayados with a very hopeful display.

There are currently some serious injury problems at Club Tijuana, with both Lucas Rodriguez and Efrain Alvarez out due to injury, and Rafael Fernandez was also carted out of the game against Monterrey. However, the team played arguably its best game of the season against Monterrey, with Joe Corona taking an attacking midfield role. Corona is expected to play in this game against Leon, given his phenomenal performance against Rayados during the week.

Argentine forward Domingo Blanco also did a fantastic job of generating play in his last game, and it will be interesting to see how he plays against Leon. The backline has been one of the most consistent components of this Club Tijuana roster, especially the center-back partnership of Kevin Balanta and Nicolas Diaz, and it will be key to obtaining the three points from this match on Sunday.

Leon has been very inconsistent this season, with only two wins from their last seven games, but those two wins have come in their last three games. The team from Guanajuato is coming off a 1-0 win against Atletico San Luis in what was a very hard-fought match, with the winning goal coming in the final minutes by Steven Barreiro. Alan Medina picked up a red card in that clash against San Luis and will consequently be unavailable for this match in Tijuana. Andres Guardado, who was the star signing for Leon this season, is nursing an injury and is unlikely to feature in this match as well.

Leon has been inconsistent all year, but goalkeeper Rodolfo Cota is one of the more consistent shot-stoppers in the league, and he has the potential to be a nuisance for Club Tijuana’s attackers in this match.

Leon is considered a rivalry match by fans of the respective teams, and this game is potentially set to be a very hard-fought encounter at the Estadio Caliente. Both teams desperately need the three points from the match, but Club Tijuana definitely has more urgency with the terrible start to this 2024 Clausura.

Francisco Velasco

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.