Club Leon, also known as Los Esmeraldas, is one of the most successful teams in Mexican football. Founded in 1944, the club has won multiple Liga MX titles, the Copa MX, and even the CONCACAF Champions League in 2014. Club Tijuana, on the other hand, is a relatively new team, founded in 2007. Despite this, they have also seen their share of success, winning the Apertura title in 2012 and the Copa MX in 2015. As two of the top teams in Mexican football, it's no surprise that Club Leon and Club Tijuana have had some exciting match-ups in recent years.
Club Leon's Alignments
Club Leon's alignments have long been known for their attacking style of play, relying on quick counter-attacks and creative passing combinations to create scoring opportunities. This has been the team's bread and butter for the past several years and is still a key part of their approach today. The team is led by manager Luis Fernando Tena, who has been with the club since 2013. He has implemented a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the two holding midfielders providing cover for the back four while allowing the attacking players to focus on creating chances. The team's defensive strength is also key to their success, as they have allowed the fewest goals in Liga MX since 2014.
Club Tijuana's Alignments
Club Tijuana, under the leadership of head coach Miguel Herrera, have adopted a more possession-based approach than Club Leon. Herrera's 4-3-3 formation allows for more control of the ball, with the two wingers providing width and the three attacking midfielders providing support for the lone striker. The team has also been known to switch to a 4-4-2 formation when playing against teams with a more defensive approach. Defensively, the team is adept at pressing high up the pitch and forcing opponents into mistakes. This has been a key part of their success in recent years, as they have allowed the second-fewest goals in Liga MX since 2014.
Recent Match-Ups
Club Leon and Club Tijuana have faced off a total of nine times since 2014, with the Esmeraldas coming out on top in five of those matches. The most recent match-up between the two teams was a Liga MX match in February 2018, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Club Tijuana had the lion's share of possession, but Club Leon was able to create more scoring chances and were unlucky not to take all three points. The team's defensive strength was also key, as Club Leon was able to keep Club Tijuana from finding the back of the net.
Conclusion
Club Leon and Club Tijuana have had some exciting match-ups in recent years, with both teams displaying their respective strengths. Club Leon's attacking style of play and defensive strength has been key to their success, while Club Tijuana's more possession-based approach has also been effective. With both teams looking to make a push for the Liga MX title in 2023, the match-ups between the two teams could decide who will come out on top.
