TIJUANA, BC.- After a crazy December, full of celebrations, holidays and more, at last it's time for soccer and Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente is ready to defend its newly acquired championship on the Mexican league when they visit Puebla de La Franja on Sunday afternoon.

The game will be played at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in the Angelópolis, as part of Week 1 of the 2013 Clausura tournament of the Mexican First Division, and will mark the start of a very busy 2013 season where the border team will play two local tournaments, plus Copa Libertadores de América and Concacaf Champions League at international level.

Club Tijuana called Noé Maya for the third time in its history to be able to reinforce the midfield, while Daniel Márquez comes to the attacking line in order to give Argentinian Coach Antonio Mohamed, a better chance to defend the title won a month ago in Toluca.

The rival this time is a very difficult one, with Puebla having fired 13 players during the Winter break, hiring 9 new players in order to try to change its luck. Manuel Lapuente, La Franja's Coach, will field a very mysterious team during this game.

On the other hand, Club Tijuana is not so clear yet; Mohamed could field the same players that started against Sinaloa Dorados, with the new ones coming in too, but it's important to know that the starters have had a very big working load since the playoffs from last year.

The probable formation will be with Cirilo Saucedo under the goal; on the left back Édgar Castillo, with Javier Gandolfi and Pablo César Aguilar in the center; the right will be defended by Juan Carlos Núñez of if needed, by Richard Ruiz.

The midfield will see Christian Pellerano, Tijuana's Fernando Arce and the possible entry of Leandro Augusto or Joe Corona.

The attacking zone is clearer, with Alfredo "Chango" Moreno at the very front, with the support on the left by Ecuatorian Fidel Martínez, and on the right by Colombian Duvier Riascos.

The team might suffer modifications just a few hours before the match, but the champion will have to defend with all its teeth its title during this new season of Mexican soccer.

manuel.medina@sandiegored.com