Tijuana Xolos split points with Toluca in uneventful 0-0 draw
Credit: Jeremy Collins(XoloGuero)/EVT Sports
The Tijuana Xolos played their penultimate home match of the 2025 Liga MX Apertura season against Toluca this Wednesday, October 22.
Club Tijuana was undefeated in seven home games coming into this match, and extended that streak to eight matches.
However, this scoreless result also extended Xolos’ winless streak to three games, coming off a hard-fought 4-3 loss to Puebla. Toluca was on a massive eight-game winning streak in all competitions, and this ended that impressive run.
#Xolos vs. Toluca at the Estadio Caliente@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/nvDT5IgsKm
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) October 23, 2025
Manager Sebastian Abreu only made one change to his starting 11, replacing Adonis Preciado with Mourad El Ghezouani. Toluca was missing starting striker Paulinho due to an injury, as he did not travel with the squad.
The game plan for Abreu was clear from the initial whistle, as he stated in the post-game press conference. “We tried to minimize the rival’s potential”, Abreu said. “We try to be realistic and know who we are facing. The best team in the league, the best manager in the league.”
“We try to be realistic and know who we’re facing. The best team in the league, the best manager in the league.”#Xolos manager Sebastian Abreu on his game plan today against Toluca.@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/6WGJ7j4xmf
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) October 23, 2025
Club Tijuana was not worried about keeping possession of the ball in this match and instead tried to bank on a mistake by the opposition. The border city team tried to build some counterattacks, but failed to really produce many clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Toluca controlled 60 percent of the sphere in the opening 45 minutes, and neither team produced a shot on target.
In the second half, Club Tijuana controlled 61 percent possession and had two shots on target, but no success. The Aztec Canines really relied on order and defensive prowess in the complementary half to keep that scoreline.
Abreu only made three changes in the second half as Shamar Nicholson, Adonis Preciado, and Domingo Blanco came on for Gilberto Mora, Adonis Preciado and Mourad El Ghezouani.
Alan Vega was one of the key players in this match for Xolos, with 10 clearances and two tackles, and three recoveries. Ivan Tona also had a significant match in the midfield with eight ball recoveries and five out of seven ground duels won.
Toluca FC manager Antonio Mohamed on the 0-0 game against #Xolos.
“It was a boring, hard-fought game.”@EVT_News pic.twitter.com/ue97Invxc0
— Francisco Velasco (@FranciscoEfV) October 23, 2025
Toluca Manager Antonio Mohamed summed up the game very well in the post-game press conference. “It was a boring, hard-fought game”, said Mohamed.
While the game itself was not very exciting, the result is not bad at all for Club Tijuana against the current Liga MX champions. There are only three games left in the Liga MX regular season, with just one home match left against Atlas on November 7.
Xolos will go on the road to face Tigres UANL at the Estadio Universitario this next Saturday, November 25.
Francisco, 28, 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 FC, San Diego Wave. I have covered Liga MX, MLS, Mexico National Team, USWNT, Copa América and European clubs like Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund.