The curtain rose on the fifth matchday of the Liga MX Clausura 2026 with a clash under the bright lights of Estadio Caliente, as Club Tijuana—better known as the Xolos—hosted Puebla in a contest that promised intensity and delivered plenty, even if the net never rippled. Despite both teams’ best efforts, the scoreboard stubbornly stayed at 0-0, leaving fans with a night of drama but no goals to cheer.
Arriving at this crucial juncture, Tijuana was one of the few undefeated sides left in the tournament, sitting eighth in the standings with six points from one victory and three draws. The ambition for Sebastián Abreu’s squad was clear: seize their first home win of the campaign, keep their unbeaten record, and perhaps sneak into the top three. Puebla, guided by Albert Espigares, entered the fray in 14th place with four points, desperate to claw their way up the table after a tough start marked by inconsistency and a recent 0-0 draw against Toluca—a match in which Nicolás Díaz saw red.
The match kicked off at 21:06 Central Mexico Time on Friday, February 6, 2026, with over 25,000 fans packing the stands at Estadio Caliente, also affectionately called Mictlán. The anticipation was palpable. Karen Hernández Andrade took charge as referee, overseeing a contest that would be streamed live on FOX One for fans across Mexico, while viewers in the United States could catch the action exclusively on TUDN.
From the opening whistle, both teams wasted no time probing for weaknesses. Tijuana’s attacking trio—Kevin Castañeda, Adonis Preciado, and Mourad El Ghezouani—looked lively, peppering Puebla’s goal with shots from distance and sharp crosses. Castañeda, in particular, seemed determined to make his mark, forcing Ricardo Gutiérrez in Puebla’s net into several early saves. The Xolos’ intent was unmistakable: dominate possession and set the tempo on home turf.
Puebla, however, refused to be mere spectators. They responded with swift counterattacks, often orchestrated by Esteban Lozano, Edgar Guerra, and Carlos Baltazar. Lozano tested Tijuana’s José Rodríguez with a fierce drive in the opening minutes, while Edgar Guerra and Baltazar combined for a series of quick passes that nearly broke the deadlock. As the first half wore on, fouls and minor injuries momentarily disrupted the rhythm, but neither side let up in their pursuit of an opener.
The first half closed with both teams having carved out genuine chances, but finishing proved elusive. According to minute-by-minute reports, Castañeda unleashed a shot just wide in the 43rd minute after a clever setup from Ramiro Árciga, while Lozano and Guerra kept Tijuana’s defense honest with their movement and directness. The referee signaled two minutes of added time, but the breakthrough never arrived. At halftime, the score remained 0-0, with the sense that a single moment of brilliance could tip the balance.
With the second half underway, the intensity ratcheted up another notch. Tactical substitutions came thick and fast: Josef Martínez replaced Árciga for Tijuana, while Puebla introduced Alonso Ramírez and Kevin Velasco to inject fresh legs. The Xolos nearly found joy when Jackson Porozo’s header in the 49th minute skimmed just over the bar, courtesy of a pinpoint Castañeda corner. Preciado and El Ghezouani also threatened, but their efforts were either blocked or drifted agonizingly wide.
Puebla’s response was immediate. Ángelo Araos, who entered as a substitute, unleashed a series of long-range efforts, one of which forced a sharp save from Rodríguez. Guerra, Velasco, and Baltazar continued to probe, and the visitors earned a flurry of corners in the closing stages, ramping up the pressure as the clock ticked down. Yet, time and again, both goalkeepers and their defensive lines stood tall, denying any hopes of a late winner.
The match’s closing minutes were a microcosm of the entire contest: frantic, physical, and full of near-misses. Kevin Castañeda’s drive in the 87th minute brought the crowd to its feet, only for Gutiérrez to parry the shot away. Puebla’s Velasco fired just wide in the 90th minute after a clever assist from Araos, and the fourth official signaled four minutes of added time. The final whistle eventually sounded with the score still locked at zero—a result that, while perhaps frustrating for the strikers, reflected the hard-fought nature of the duel.
With the draw, Tijuana retained their undefeated status, moving to seven points and holding firm in eighth place. Puebla, meanwhile, climbed to 11th with five points, gaining a valuable away point in their quest to escape the lower reaches of the table. For the Xolos, the inability to claim their first home victory may sting, but their consistency and defensive resilience remain reasons for optimism. Puebla, on the other hand, will take heart from a disciplined display on the road, especially after their previous struggles away from home.
Looking at the bigger picture, the matchup continued a recent trend of close encounters between these two sides. In the last five meetings, results have swung back and forth, with Puebla holding a slight edge overall. Yet, on this occasion, neither team could find the killer touch. The likes of Kevin Castañeda, Jackson Porozo, Esteban Lozano, and Edgar Guerra all left their mark with energetic performances, but the finishing boots were left behind.
Fans tuning in via FOX One enjoyed real-time commentary and analysis, while those in the stadium witnessed a contest that, despite lacking goals, was rich in drama, tactical intrigue, and the kind of end-to-end action that keeps Liga MX among the most unpredictable leagues around. As the final stats showed, both sides generated a slew of chances—shots from distance, headers from set pieces, and a barrage of corners—yet defenses and goalkeepers emerged as the true stars of the evening.
As the dust settles on this fifth matchday, both Tijuana and Puebla know there’s work to be done. For the Xolos, sharpening their attack at home will be vital if they are to challenge the league’s frontrunners. Puebla, buoyed by a hard-earned point, will aim to build on this performance and climb further up the standings. With the Clausura 2026 heating up, every point counts—and on this night in Tijuana, both sides had to settle for just one.