Match preview: Tijuana vs. Monterrey

Game: Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente vs. Club de Fútbol Monterrey Rayados, A. C.

Date: Friday, November 11th

Time: 10:10 p.m. Eastern, 9:10 p.m. Central, 7:10 p.m. Pacific, 2:10 a.m. UTC

Venue: Estadio Caliente (Tijuana, B.C.)

Referees: REF: Jorge Isaac Rojas Castillo, AR1: Miguel Ángel Hernández Paredes, AR2: Jose de Jesus Baños Caballero, 4TH: Jesus Rafael Lopez Valle

Radio: 98.9 FM (Tijuana/San Diego), 106.7 FM (Calexico/Mexicali)

Television: United States - Fox Sports 2, FOX Deportes, Fox 5 San Diego; Mexico - Fox Sports 2 Cono Norte

Streaming: fuboTV (Free trial + monthly subscription), Sling TV (Free trial + monthly subscription), FOX Sports GO, MOREFM Online.com (Audio only)

All-time record: Monterrey holds the all time record across all competitions, winning eight to Xolos’ six with the clubs drawing eight times. The clubs have only ever met in Liga MX play. The last time the clubs met, Tijuana won 1-0 at Estadio Caliente back on March 16. In that one, Miller Bolaños scored the lone goal and Gibran Lajud had a fantastic game as Tijuana ended Rayados’ undefeated run.

Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images

Tijuana (7W 3D 6L) is currently in eighth place and in the Liguilla picture. Monterrey (6W 3D 7L) is in eleventh place, and on the outside looking in. Both teams will want all three points when they meet at the Mictlán in the Friday night late game.

Tijuana is coming off of a stinging 3-0 loss to Juárez, however they’re returning home where they have a record of 4W 3D 0L. Estadio Caliente has been a fortress for Xolos, where they’ve only conceded eight goals in seven games (compared to the twenty-two they’ve conceded on the road in nine games).

Photo by Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images

Rayados have been the mystery of the season. Look up and down their roster and it’s chock full of quality, but under previous manager Diego Alonso the squad wasn’t able to live up to its considerable potential in the current tournament. They brought back Antonio “Turco” Mohamed from a stint with Celta Vigo in Spain and Huracán in Argentina, and Turco has managed to draw twice and win once since returning in the beginning of October.

But the turnaround might not be all that it seems. None of the teams are currently in the Liguilla, with the lone win coming against Pachuca (6W 3D 7L) and draws coming against Chivas (5W 4D 7L) and Veracruz (1W 5D 10L). A win in Tijuana against his old club would go a long way to quell the doubts that are still held about Rayados’ in addition to possibly pushing them into the Liguilla.

Both teams can be spectacular if they play to their potential. Both teams can also be dreadful if they don’t show up. If either team can consistently find their rhythm, they could give plenty of teams trouble in the Liguilla.