Guadalajara will host Xolos de Tijuana on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Estadio Akron in Jornada 17 of the Clausura 2026, with Chivas trying to close the regular season as high as possible in the overall table before the Liguilla.
The timing matters because this is the last league match before the playoff stage, and Chivas have not finished at the top of the overall table since the Apertura 2011. That gives the game against Tijuana extra weight beyond the usual regional edge: it is part of a late push to improve position before the postseason begins.
Gabriel Milito said the squad is generally in strong physical condition, but Omar Govea and Ángel Sepúlveda are out with muscle injuries. He described both cases as not serious. Milito also said Richy could possibly recover for the next match, while Govea will be evaluated to avoid taking risks. Sepúlveda, he said, has an adductor overload and could be available for the next match or could be ruled out until the final game of the championship.
That leaves Chivas with a clear balance to manage: protect players who are not fully fit, but not lose ground in a match that could shape the club’s place in the table. The situation is sharper because the team is also the one contributing the most national team selections for the 2026 World Cup, a sign of its depth and a reminder of how much is being asked of its roster.
The pressure now is less about surviving the weekend than about converting a late-season opportunity. If Chivas handle Tijuana and get key players back in time, they can enter the Liguilla with better momentum and a stronger standing than they have managed in years.