Game: Puebla vs. Tijuana Xolos

Where: Estadio Cuauhtemoc, Puebla, Mexico

When: Friday, February 21, 2025

Time: 7:00 p.m. PST

TV: VIX, TUDN

The Tijuana Xolos will face Puebla at the Estadio Cuahtemoc this Friday, February 21, for a game in the 2025 Clausura season.

Club Tijuana is coming off a crushing 2-1 loss against FC Juarez at home, which has really complicated the playoff hopes for this season.

The Border City Dogs have 10 regular season games left in this campaign and only four games left at home. The Xoloitzcuintles have struggled on the road historically, and it has been no different with manager Juan Carlos Osorio.

Of the six road games remaining this season, this is definitely one of the more winnable ones against an inconsistent Puebla team. Puebla only has one win this season and is coming off an embarrassing 3-2 loss against Atlas.

La Franja was winning the game against Atlas 2-1 and went on to concede two unanswered goals in stoppage time. Former Xolos manager Pablo Guede leads Puebla but is now in the hot seat after losing the game against Atlas in that fashion.

Former Xolos fullback Brayan Angulo will be back for Los Camoteros after serving a one-match ban. However, Luis Quinones, who is arguably Puebla’s best player, will be unavailable for this match due to an injury.

New signings for Club Tijuana like Shamar Nicholson, Frank Boya, and Jackson Porozo are yet to fully adapt to Liga MX play. This adaptation process is not always straightforward, and it will be interesting to see if any of these players finally hit their stride in this match. Raul Zuniga has certainly hit his stride this season, with four goals scored in five games as a starter.

Zuniga is at the forefront of this Tijuana attack and other players like Efrain Alvarez have also played well, but the team as a whole has lacked consistency.

The backline has especially struggled as it has given up 17 goals in seven games played, which is the most in Liga MX currently. Juan Carlos Osorio’s team has been left vulnerable to counter-attacks at times, and the goalkeeping situation is very unclear.

Osorio also picked up a red card in the game against FC Juarez and will not be on the sidelines in this match against Puebla. All games moving forward are vital in Xolos’ season, if the border city club wants any shot at a playoff spot.

Francisco Velasco

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.