Tijuana Xolos look to extend home win streak vs. Atletico San Luis
Game: Tijuana Xolos vs Atletico San Luis
Where: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana, Mexico
When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023
Time: 8:00 p.m. PST
TV: TUDN
The Tijuana Xolos will play their 11th game in the Liga MX 2023 Apertura season this Sunday, Oct. 8, against Atletico San Luis at the Estadio Caliente. The Border City Dogs are coming off a highly disappointing 2-1 loss to Santos Laguna away from home, where a missed penalty by Lucas Rodriguez cost Xolos the point from the match.
Despite the negative away results, Club Tijuana is on a two-game winning streak at home and has only lost one game at the Mictlan this season. The Prehistoric Canines are on a four-game undefeated streak at home and will look to extend that tally against San Luis.
The border city team played without top scorer Carlos Gonzalez in the loss to Santos Laguna, as he was serving a one-match ban due to a red card picked up in the last home game against FC Juarez. Gonzalez has scored seven goals this season and is tied as the seond top goalscorer in this 2023 Apertura season.
The Paraguayan striker scored two goals and provided an assist in Tijuana’s 5-1 thrashing against FC Juarez and will look for a similar performance on Sunday night. Other players that continue to be in form for the Xoloitzcuintles inckude goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez, defender Nicolas Diaz and midfielder Fernando Madrigal.
Atletico San Luis is a tough opponent, currently in fourth place with 19 points from 10 games played. However, the San Luis Potosi-based team has lost two of its last three league games and is coming off a 2-1 loss to Cruz Azul at home. Los Potosinos have excelled in the defensive department tied for the third-best defense in the Liga MX with 13 goals allowed this season. A big factor to this defensive prowess has been centre-back Unai Bilbao along with the midfield duo of Rodrigo Dourado and former Xolo’ Javier Guemez.
San Luis’s attack is very intriguing with speed on the wings featuring Jhon Murillo and Mateo Kilmowicz. Striker Leo Bonatini has only scored three goals this season, but offensive midfielder Dieter Villalpando has two goals and three assists this semester.
Atletico San Luis is a well-built team, but not an unbeatable team, especially not for a Club Tijuana team that has been spectacular at home in recent games. A win for Club Tijuana has the potential to propel the Aztec Canines to seventh place on the Liga MX table.
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.