Photo Credit: Club Tijuana
By Jonny Rico
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Soccer in Mexico’s top flight league, LIGA MX officially returns on Friday July 15th. It will be Tijuana Xolos who will have the honors to get things started again as it hosts Monarcas Morelia in the opening match of the new season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. (local Pacific Time) at Estadio Calinete in Tijuana, Baja California.
A lot will be at play for both sides despite being the earliest match possible match of the season. Both teams, alongside recently promoted side Necaxa will be key players in the relegation race throughout the 2016 Apertura and 2017 Clausura. Xolos is currently in 16th place of the percentage table with an average of 1.1618 points per match while Morelia is one spot below with a 1.0882 percentage. Necaxa is the only team below the two with a 0.00 percent since it is yet to play a match.
Both team will have 34 matches during this regular season as well as the upcoming 2017 Clausura to avoid being dropped into Ascenso MX. The two head-to-head meeting will be vital for both sides even if it is early in the season.
Monarcas Morelia and Club Tijuana recently faced each other in a preseason friendly back on July 6 in Yuma, AZ. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. Both sides took the opportunity to mix up the lineup and get many players time on the field.
MIGUEL HERRERA TOUCH
Tijuana Xolos will need the magic from its charismatic manager Miguel ‘Piojo’ Herrera in its fight to avoid relegation. Herrera arrived at the club last January and managed the Xolos through the 2016 Clausura season. Xolos finished that first season under Herrera with a 3-5-9 record in 14th place of the league table.
Herrera had the entire off-season to plan and build the team to his liking. Big squad decisions were taken, long time team captain and central defender Javier Gandolfi was cut from the squad and later signed for Velez of Argentina as a free agent. Gandolfi had led the Xolos throughout its second division days all the way to winning promotion, winning the league title and colorful international participation in Copa Libertadores and CONCACAF Champions League. Leiton Jimenez, Juan Perez and Jesus Escoboza were also cut from last season’s squad.
With the liberty of being able to build the Xolos squad to his liking, Herrera called upon some of his former disciples. Juan Carlos Media rejoins Herrera from Atlas. Yasser Corona, a player that ‘Piojo’ saw potential in to the point of giving him his first call up to the Mexican National Team when he was in charge, also joins. One of the league’s best forwards, Aviles Hurtado also joins to bolster the Xolos attack along with Milton Caraglio from affiliate club Dorados Sinaloa who were relegated to the second division last season.
Not only did Club Tijuana pick up plenty of talent from other LIGA MX sides, it also went into the international transfer market strengthen the team. Victor Malcorra, Guido Rodriguez and Emmanuel Aguilera will all be joining Xolos in their first LIGA MX experience.
LIKELY STARTING LINEUP:
Mexico
