Match preview: Atlético San Luis vs. Tijuana

Game: Club Atlético de San Luis vs. Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente

Date: Sunday, September 29th

Time: 6:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Central, 3:00 p.m. Pacific, 10:00 p.m. UTC

Venue: Estadio Alfonso Lastras (San Luis Potosí, S.L.P.)

Referees: REF: Eduardo Galvan Basulto, AR1: José Alfredo López Cruz, AR2: Jimmy Acosta Montesinos, 4TH: Victor Alfonso Caceres Hernandez

Television: United States - None; Mexico - ESPN2 Norte

All-time record: This will be the first ever meeting between Atlético San Luis and Tijuana.

Photo credit should read GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP/Getty Images

After a much needed win at home, Tijuana (4W 2D 4L) heads to San Luis Potosí to face Atlético San Luis (4W 2D 4L). Xolos and San Luis both sit just two points out of a Liguilla spot with a game in hand over seventh place Morelia (5W 1D 5L) and eighth place Monterrey (5W 1D 5L).

Xolos have looked good at home, as evidenced by their gritty win over Monarcas on Wednesday. The road has been their undoing, where they’ve gone 1W 0D 4L in their five games this season. Any shot at the Liguilla will depend on being able to get points in places like San Luis Potosí, Torreón, Guadalajara, and Ciudad Juárez, all of which Xolos will be visiting over the remainder of the Apertura.

Photo by Alfredo Moya/Jam Media/Getty Images

San Luis hasn’t done themselves any favors at home, compiling a record of 1W 2D 2L so far. To be fair, every team they have hosted sits either in a Liguilla spot (Santos, Morelia, and Rayados) or just outside (Tigres and Pumas). San Luis must be better over their remaining matches if they’re going to be one of the rare teams that comes from the Ascenso and goes straight into the Liguilla. Unfortunately for them it’s a murderer’s row of visitors still to come, with Querétaro, América, and Necaxa all making the trip to San Luis Potosí before the end of the season.

San Luis is a surprisingly competent team considering their rise from the Ascenso. Forward Nicolás Ibáñez, on loan from parent club Atlético Madrid, is the team’s leading goalscorer with four goals so far this season. Atleti is primarily a defensive side, however they’ve given up three goals in each of their last two outings so manager Gustavo Matosas may look to shake things up in back to help give his team a lift.

This game ultimately will come down to who wants it more and may be the decisive factor as to if either of these teams is in fact a Liguilla team. Both teams need these three points, so this should be considered a must-win by both sides.