Game: Mazatlan FC vs. Tijuana Xolos

Where: Estadio El Encanto, Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico

When: Friday, March 29, 2024

Time: 8:00 p.m. PST

TV: VIX

The Tijuana Xolos are still in search of their first victory in the Liga MX 2024 Clausura season after 12 games played in the campaign.

The Aztec Canines are on a horrendous run of form, currently on a 14-game winless streak dating back to last season, but this away game against Mazatlan is a good opportunity to break this major slump.

Club Tijuana has been historically very bad on the road, and the Border City Dog’s last victory away from home was in Mazatlan on April 14, 2023. Nearly a year has passed without any road wins for the Xoloitzcuintles, but Mazatlan’s bad form allows the opportunity to see this rare occurrence when Tijuana needs it most.

Club Tijuana has only lost one of its last seven games, currently on a four-game tying streak, coming off a 2-2 draw against Santos Laguna at home. The Xolos have faced some major injury problems, but it seems that defender Nicolas Diaz will be back from injury for this match in Mazatlan. Finishing and chance creation have been major issues for Club Tijuana this season, as striker Carlos Gonzalez has not had much production, in part due to lack of scoring opportunities generated for him.

Gonzalez scored in the last game against Santos Laguna, along with Christian Rivera, who leads Club Tijuana with six goals scored in this campaign. Rivera has scored all his goals from the penalty spot but has had an excellent season in his role as a box-to-box midfielder as well.

Mazatlan FC is currently in 15th place with nine points and is on a two-game losing streak, coming off a terrible 5-1 loss to Tigres UANL away from home. Mazatlan has only lost one of five home games this season, a 2-1 victory against Necaxa being the last result for Los Bukaneros at the Estadio El Encanto.

Luis Amarilla has been the standout player for the Sinaloa-based team this season, with six goals scored in 12 games, including a goal in the recent 5-1 loss against Tigres UANL. There are some intriguing players on Mazatlan, but Club Tijuana arguably has a better squad and are incredibly desperate for that first win of the season.

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.