Preview:Tigres vs San Diego - prediction, team news, lineups

Tigres and San Diego face off for the first time in the Leagues Cup, with the Liga MX side looking to make it two wins from two, while the MLS team search for a first victory.

The Mexican side have already claimed the scalp of an MLS side in the first game, recording a convincing 4-1 victory over Houston Dynamo, while newcomers San Diego could not complete a comeback in the 3-2 loss to Pachuca.

Match preview

It has been a great start to the season for the Tigers, who have now won all three matches across all competitions played so far, recording six points from their opening two matches in the Liga MX to sit three points behind leaders Pachuca with a game in hand.

The Mexican side headed into the break against Houston leading 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Angel Correa but conceded moments into the second half to see things become level again.

Diego Lainez restored the lead just past the hour mark, before Correa added a second to extend the lead and Jonathan Herrera added a fourth late in stoppage time.

In what will be their first-ever meeting against San Diego, the eight-time Liga MX champions will hope to record a second victory to take them closer to a quarterfinal spot with only the third game left after this in Phase One.

San Diego, who were granted a place in this year’s Leagues Cup as part of the Major League Soccer’s policy of granting a new entrant the chance to compete on the international stage from the onset, kicked off the competition on a sour note.

The MLS side were 3-0 down against Pachuca by the 67th minute, and while an 88th-minute goal from Emmanuel Boateng and a stoppage-time goal from Luca Bombino would inspire a comeback, it was not to be for SDFC.

The loss ended a run of two matches without defeat for Mikey Varas’s side, though they are still flying high on the domestic front, where they currently sit atop the Western Conference with 46 points from 25 matches.

With a final group stage game against Mazatlan.coming up, San Diego must record a win here to keep hope of a quarterfinal place alive heading into that game.

Tigres Leagues Cup form:

Tigres form (all competitions):

San Diego Leagues Cup form:

San Diego form (all competitions):

Team News

Tigres head into this clash with an almost fully-fit squad, with Jesus Angulo being the only doubt with a knee issue.

Former Atletico Madrid forward Correa, who grabbed a brace in the opening game, will form a two-man attack alongside Nicolas Ibanez, who is still looking to open his account in this competition.

San Diego have more to deal with on the injury front, with Anisse Saidi and Christopher McVey out with muscle problems.

Marcus Ingvartsen and William Kumado are also sidelined from the game with muscle-related injuries, while Andres Dreyer was sent off in the first game and is suspended for this clash.

Tigres possible starting lineup:

Guzman; Lorona, Zwarg, Sanchez, Garza; Lainez, Gorriaran, Brunetta, Flores; Correa, Ibanez

San Diego possible starting lineup:

Sisniega; Duah, McNair, Pilcher, Bombino; Valakari, Godoy, Tverskov; Boateng, Angel, Lozano

We say: Tigres 3-1 San Diego

Tigres have a lot of firepower and quality in attack and that will likely make the difference against newcomers San Diego, who have conceded in eight of their last nine matches, pointing to a leaky defence.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.