FC Dallas has to pick up a win tonight in order to safely advance out of their group in the 2023 Leagues Cup as they host Liga MX side Club Necaxa1.

The lineups for the two sides are out, so letā€™s dive into what each team is working with, first with FC Dallas.

Changes from the last match

Only three main changes from last Friday, as Maarten Paes comes back into the lineup after missing the Charlotte game for a family funeral. Jose Martinez gets the start over Nkosi Tafari, and Edwin Cerrillo gets the nod over Facundo Quignon.

Estevez is keeping a pretty offensive-style look to the lineup tonight with Alan Velasco in the middle of the park. FC Dallas really needs to have him get going in the attack tonight.

Who we could see in the second half

You have to think this is a game weā€™ll see Paul Arriola get some minutes in the second half. The same could be said for Paxton Pomykal or Ema Twuamsi.

If those guys arenā€™t getting minutes in this one, then Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Sam Junqua, Eugene Ansah, and Quignon seem like likely choices.

Injury Report

OUT: Tarik Scott (season-ending injury), Jesus Jimenez


FC Dallas vs Necaxa: Preview, game notes and how to watch

Big D Soccer ā€¢ Jul 25, 2023

FC Dallas wraps up group play on Tuesday night in the 2023 Leagues Cup as they host Liga MX side Club Necaxa. Nico Estevezā€™s side is coming off a disappointing result in the opener last Friday against Charlotte FC, where they tied 2-2 in regulation before losing 4-1 in the penalty shootout.

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Here is what Necaxa is working with

Weā€™re going to have to use the formation card from the leagueā€™s website on this one. A 5-4-1 for the ā€˜visitorsā€™ (remember it is a neutral site gameā€¦so theyā€™re not technically visitors).


Catch the game on Apple. Join us on our Notes to discuss it.


  1. Scenarios: FCD wins, and they're in the Knockout Round. FCD loses in regular time or PKs, and they're out, and we begin a long three-week break. ā†©