Sports

Tijuana Xolos looking to take the monkey off their backs

Xolos will try and beat Morelia for the 1st time.

By Jonny Rico2014-01-24T00:16:40+00:00

TIJUANA - Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente will host Monarcas Morelia in week four action of the Clausura 2014 season of the LIGA Bancomer MX. The Xolos have never been able to defeat Morelia and will be looking for their first victory over the Michuacan side on Friday night.

The match is scheduled for Friday January 24 at 7:30pm local time from the Estadio Caliente in Tijuana, Baja California. The match will be shown live on Azteca America and ESPN Deportes in the United States.

Tijuana Xolos have an impressive 18 match unbeaten streak in the Estadio Caliente dating back to two season ago, plus Copa Libertadores, and CONCACAF Champions League. The last time the Xoloitzcuintles suffered a defeat at home was back in April 20th of 2013 against this very Monarcas Morelia side.

Tijuana has only been able to manage two draws in their five ever matches against Monarcas and will look to pick up three points against this opponent for the first time with the help of their enormous home field advantage.

Xolos manager Cesar Farias will most likely have to play around some key absences, both Argentine striker Dario Benedetto and American midfielder Joe Corona have been limited by injury. Corona was unable to start in last weekends 2-1 defeat to Pachuca; he came on in the final 14 minutes and did not look too sharp. In the same match Benedetto had to be subbed out due to an injury early in the second half. The Argentine has had a hard time staying healthy since joining the Xolos at the start of the Apertura 2013.

Morelia come into this match following a 2-0 win over Tigres, a 2-2 draw at Toluca and a 0-1 loss at home to Queretaro on the first game of the season. The have one of the most feared attacks lead by Chilean striker Hector Mancilla Jefferson Montero and former Tijuana Xolos Duvier Riascos behind him.

Riascos will be making his second trip back to Tijuana after having played at the Estadio Caliente with the Pachuca jersey last season. The fns in the border are completely divided with their emotions towards the Colombian striker. Some still hold Riascos with deep regard because of what he did in leading Tijuana to the league title. While some still hold resentment towards him for missing a penalty kick that would have sent the Xolos to the semifinals of the Copa Libertadores eliminating the eventual champions Atletico Mineiro.

Possible lineups: