In a tightly contested friendly match, las Chivas Guadalajara managed to hold their ground with a 1-1 draw against Xolos de Tijuana, showcasing their progress during the international break. The preparation match, held on March 23, 2025, in San Diego, revealed the continuing efforts of coach Gerardo Espinoza to refine both team strategy and individual performance.
The match action came alive late in the game when Teun Wilke, who has been making strides in his role, scored the equalizing goal with a powerful header. Previously, Chivas had opened their prep season successfully by defeating their traditional rivals, Atlas, 2-0. This victory built considerable momentum for the team as they approached their regular season challenges.
Chivas was eager to make a statement during their second preparation match after an undefeated first outing against Atlas. Wilke’s goal against Tijuana helped to cement the team's cohesiveness in light of upcoming fixtures. The international break has been a crucial opportunity for many players to work on their fitness and enhance their understanding of tactical roles.
As they prepare for the Jornada 13 clash against Cruz Azul, scheduled for March 29 at 21:05 hours Mexico City time, Chivas will look to translate the progress made in these preparation matches into a strong showing during the regular season. Coach Espinoza continues to focus on honing the team's tactics while fostering an environment where players can thrive individually.
The week leading up to the match against Cruz Azul will be pivotal, with the coaching staff emphasizing the importance of building on the momentum. With each friendly match, the staff gets a better sense of the team's dynamics and the best strategies to employ in the face of the challenges from established Liga MX teams.
Considering the notable ups and downs, Tijuana's situation mirrors that of Chivas, as they too recently transitioned in their coaching staff. Following the departure of head coach Juan Carlos Osorio, Tijuana seeks to establish a new rhythm and identity going into the future.
Both teams have their eyes set on not just the immediate bout but the larger journey of the season, seeking consistency and improvement as they head into the critical matches ahead. As notorious rivals, their matches are expected to incite significant fan engagement, and steeled determination will be essential on the pitch.
This friendly ultimately served not just as a practice opportunity but also as a barometer for both teams' readiness for upcoming tests within Liga MX. Chivas is clearly working hard towards ordaining new strategies in a quest for improvement, and their coaching staff will analyze the failures and triumphs closely in the coming days as they prepare for what lies ahead.
With anticipation building among their supporters, the outcome versus Cruz Azul will present another essential test of Chivas's aspirations, and they will aim to carry forward their recently visible improvements into that encounter.
