Read the SECOND leg of this series here.
View the Xolos 1-0 Monterrey highlights here.
The first Xolos Tijuana vs Monterrey quarterfinal leg will be on Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 PM EST at the Estadio Tecnologico in Monterrey, with the return leg on Sunday, November 18 at 7:30 PM EST at the Estadio Caliente in Tijuana. It will be pit number 2 seed, Xolos Tijuana vs the number 7 finisher in the table, Monterrey. A distant 11 points separated these two during the Apertura, Tijuana on 34 and Monterrey with 23.
In recent results between these two teams, Club Tijuana travelled to the Tecnologico stadium and tied 1-1. However, these teams met at last season’s quarterfinals where Monterrey won 4-3 and took a run into the championship and lost.
The difference between today and last season’s victory against Xolos in the playoffs is that now Tijuana is the superior team on paper and therefore the first game will be played in Monterrey rather than in Tijuana. Like Chivas, Monterrey is lucky to be playing in these playoffs because 23 points and a below .500 productivity is nothing to be conceited about. However, the ‘liguilla’ is like a whole new tournament, and Monterrey has the experience and talent to be a real surprise.
The ‘rayados’ will be without Humberto Suazo who us out with an injury, therefore Aldo De Nigris and winger Cesar Delgado will have the pressure to lead this team to victory. They face a team who is still new to this league but who has also demonstrated to be fearless against any rival, in any stadium. Therefore, Monterrey needs to play a perfect game to beat the number 2 seed Xolos of Tijuana.
Individual players to watch will be Angel Reyna for Monterrey, who has scored a couple of game-changing goals against Tijuana. For Xolos, Duvier Riascos is coming off a fantastic season with 8 goals.
The Xolos of Tijuana will be without the services of Paraguayan defender Pablo Aguilar who played and scored two goals on Wednesday with his national team. He will be replaced by Joshua Abrego who ironically also replaced Aguilar during the season against Monterrey and scored the only goal for Tijuana in the 1-1 tie. Tijuana will have the pressure to come out of the Tec with at least a tie, but the real pressure will be to not get eliminated again by Monterrey.
The team lead by Antonio Mohamed has not lost in 15 straight games this season, and although streaks end, his team plays well game-after-game. Xolos has one of the best defenses in the league, and if the midfield is capable of assisting Riascos and Alfredo Moreno, then the victory can be taken.
Xolos Tijuana vs Monterrey Prediction
In the first Xolos Tijuana vs Monterrey leg, both teams will play with intensity like they have been known to play. Monterrey will play to win the series at home, but Tijuana is too great of a defense. There will be no winner on Thursday night, and the game will be tied 1-1.
Television: The Xolos Tijuana vs Monterrey match will be shown this Thursday, November 15 at 8:00 PM Eastern on Univision Deportes.
