Fri Nov 21 02:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided ESPN Deportes text:

High Stakes Border Battle: Tijuana and FC Juárez Clash for Liguilla Spot

TIJUANA, Mexico – A fierce regional rivalry takes center stage tonight as Tijuana and FC Juárez face off in a high-stakes Play-In match for the Apertura 2025 Liguilla (playoffs). The winner of tonight’s game at Estadio Caliente will secure the coveted seventh seed in the Liguilla, keeping their title hopes alive.

Both teams enter the match with palpable tension and everything to play for. The victor earns a direct path to the “fiesta grande” of Mexican soccer, while the loser gets a second chance. That second opportunity for Liguilla comes against the winner of the Play-In B match between Pachuca and Pumas, but avoiding that extra game is a major incentive.

Tijuana finished the regular season slightly ahead of their border rivals, with 24 points (6 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses), while FC Juárez finished with 23 points (6 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses). Their previous encounter this season, in Week 3, ended in a 1-1 draw in Tijuana.

Match Details:

  • Teams: Tijuana vs. FC Juárez
  • Competition: Liga MX Apertura 2025 Play-In A
  • Date: Thursday, November 20
  • Time: 9:00 PM CDMX / 10:00 PM ET
  • Stadium: Estadio Caliente, Tijuana

Projected Starting Lineups:

  • Tijuana: Antonio Rodríguez, Jesús Vega, Unai Bilbao, Jesús Gómez, Pablo Ortíz, Rafael Fernández, Domingo Blanco, Iván Tona, Ramiro Árciga, Kevin Castañeda, Mourad El Ghezouani.
  • FC Juárez: Sebastián Jurado, Jesús Murillo, Alejandro Mayorga, Moisés Mosquera, Denzell García, Homer Martínez, Madson, José Rodríguez, Dieter Villalpando, Ricardo Oliveira, Oscar Estupiñán.

Fans can expect a hard-fought battle as both teams vie for a spot in the Liguilla.

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