Unión Tarija vs CD Guadalajara - Nacional B

The Nacional B returns to the home ground on August 22, 2026, where Unión Tarija and CD Guadalajara will lock horns in a contest that could shape their respective campaigns. The 18‑year‑old midfielder featured off the bench in the Foxes’ Carabao Cup first‑round tie last weekend, but could still depart before the window closes.

The two sides arrive with plenty to prove, and the Nacional B contest at the home ground offers a chance to lay down a marker. The hosts will be looking to find their rhythm and put a run of results together. The visitors will travel in the hope that a change of scene can spark a turnaround, whatever the form book says. Ipswich would be open to permanent offers for the winger, who has three years to run on his contract.

The tactical battle could prove decisive. Unión Tarija may lean on their home advantage to dictate the tempo, but CD Guadalajara have shown they can be dangerous when allowed to play on their own terms. It isn't clear yet that this will definitely be a winger, with Maresca and sporting director Hugo Viana flexible over their attack.

The fixture is likely to be shaped by its key performers, with creative midfielders and clinical finishers on both sides capable of turning the game in an instant. Set-piece specialists and aerial threats on both sides mean dead-ball situations could carry outsized importance. Michael Carrick wants a younger defender who can eventually succeed Luke Shaw, whose fitness record makes it difficult to rely on him throughout a demanding campaign.

The market has yet to form a strong view, and the contest looks genuinely difficult to call. With the sides so closely matched, a 1-1 stalemate looks the most likely way this one ends. With positions in the Nacional B table to defend and momentum to chase, neither side can afford to leave anything in the tank. The club are understood to favour a profile closer to Aurelien Tchouameni or a Premier League‑proven alternative rather than Manu Kone.