Preview: Atletico San Luis vs Club Tijuana – prediction, team news, lineup

Yet to win their opening two matches and against a team unbeaten in nine consecutive meetings, Atletico San Luis face a tough test of their Apertura qualification when league leaders Club Tijuana visit the Estadio Alfonso Lastras on Saturday.

Diego Mejia’s side will draw confidence from two fights to get a draw in their last outing, but Sebastian Abreu’s Tijuana come with a perfect record and an unbeaten squad.

Game preview

Atletico San Luis go into Saturday’s match in 13th place in the Liga MX table with just one point from their opening two games – a record of no wins, one draw and one defeat, with four goals scored and five conceded.

Their most recent outing produced a 2-2 draw away to UANL Tigres, a result that showed the character of Mejia’s side as they came from behind twice to claim a point on the road.

Saturday’s home game represents San Luis’ best chance to claim their first win of the campaign, and with their fans behind them at the Estadio Alfonso Lastras, the pressure to deliver a good result will be huge.

The head-to-head record between the two sides adds another negative aspect to the event for the hosts – San Luis have failed to beat Club Tijuana in nine consecutive meetings.

Club Tijuana arrives in San Luis Potosi having started the Apertura well, sitting at the top of the Liga MX table with six points from two wins and an unbeaten run.

Three other clubs also have six points, Tijuana’s highest goal difference and three separate them in the conference.

Sebastian Abreu’s side have scored four goals and conceded just one in their opening two games, and their latest outing saw a narrow 1-0 win over Club Leon, with Gilberto Mora converting from the penalty spot to seal the three points.

That record, however, remains untested as Saturday in San Luis Potosi will be Tijuana’s first trip of the campaign, and it remains to be seen how their formation and organization hold up away from home.

The last meeting between the two clubs ended in a 1-1 draw, and the extensive head-to-head record in the last five meetings is heavily skewed towards stalemates – four of the five games ended, with Tijuana’s only win being the result that split the sides in recent history.

Atletico San Luis Liga MX form:

Club Tijuana Liga MX form:

Team News

© Imago / Emilio Franco

Atletico San Luis will go into Saturday’s match with a significant injury list for this early stage of their campaign.

Joao Pedro suffered a serious ligament injury earlier this month and will be ruled out until 2027, representing the club long-term.

Benjamin Galdames is also absent due to a knee injury, while Juanpe is also sidelined with a knee complaint.

Jesus Medina is also out with a knee injury, further reducing the attacking options available to San Luis.

Club Tijuana will face Saturday’s match without any worries, and Abreu is expected to name a strong team for their first away game of the Apertura season.

Jose Antonio Rodriguez is expected to start in goal, with the back four of Pablo Ortiz, Alejandro Gomez, Jackson Porozo and Rafael Fernandez.

Ivan Tona will anchor the midfield alongside Angel Zapata and Yael Padilla, while Mourad El Ghezouani leads the attack with Adonis Preciado providing width from the wing as Tijuana look to make it three wins from three on the road.

Atletico San Luis likely to start:

Sánchez; Bambu, Aguila, Garcia; Torres, Macias, Salles-Lamonge, Esteves; Rodriguez

Club Tijuana likely to start series:

Rodriguez; Ortiz, Gomez, Porozo, Fernandez; Tona; Preciado, Padilla, Zapata, Arciga; El Ghezouani, Llorente; Flowers

We say: Atletico San Luis 1-2 Club Tijuana

Mejia’s side showed enough fight against Tigres to suggest they won’t go down, but the combination of a depleted squad, a shaky record in Tijuana’s favour, the visitors’ good form and clinical form in front of goal makes it difficult to look beyond an away win on Saturday.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.