View the Xolos 1 – 0 Toluca highlights and recap here.
The Xolos vs Toluca Week 12 game – best match of the week and possibly of the regular season- will be played this Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 9:00 PM EDT at the Estadio Caliente. This match is between the top two Liga MX squads, and also the two teams that have shown the best quality and projection thus far into the Apertura 2012. The home team, Xolos, is undefeated at home and has only one tie at the Estadio Caliente. Meanwhile, Toluca leads the regular standings with two points over Club Tijuana and a win will pull them away from their nearest points rival.
Last game against Monterrey, Tijuana played a rare, aggressive game in a tough field like the Estadio Tecnologico and earned a valuable tie. That type of attitude is important for the next match, because they face the top team in the Liga MX. Xolos has yet to lose a game at home, and if they play defensively and on the counter-attack the streak will keep going. With a win, Tijuana will be the top team in the league, and most importantly, it will put them closer to the playoffs.
Toluca has been nothing else than impressive all season long. Coach Enrique Meza has set up a strong midfield that plays possession of the ball with a defensive mind. With these tactics Toluca has been able to beat opponents left and right and are on a quick pace to a top playoff seed. To win in the difficult Estadio Caliente, Toluca has to play a perfect defensive game and take advantage of the few scoring opportunities the Xolos defense will allow them.
It is also important to note that Xolos and Toluca are just not battling for the top seed in the Liga MX playoffs, but also for a berth in the upcoming Copa Libertadores. The top three teams in the Apertura 2012 regular season standings are given a ticket to the 2013 Copa Libertadores. A win here would give the victor breathing room from those teams breathing down their necks.
Prediction: The Xolos vs Toluca match may very well be the game of the week, surpassing what we saw in the America vs Chivas thriller. Both teams have been great, and both are certainly going to be playing in the playoffs. This game will decide which is the truly better team (although Xolos has an edge for playing at home: synthetic turf, great crowd). I expect a great game with plenty of action and high levels of emotion. The Xolos vs Toluca match will end in a great 2-0 for Xolos. Xolos will take command of the Liga MX, and have a great chance of achieving a Copa Libertadores berth.
Television: The Xolos vs Toluca match will be televised this Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 9:00 PM EDT on Univision Deportes.
