Club America will be looking to win its first title since 2005 when the Apertura season opens Friday, having broken the Mexican domestic transfer record in the offseason by signing Christian Benitez for almost $10 million from Santos.
Benitez may give America an edge, but the Mexican first division is set to be as unpredictable as ever from the opening game between Estudiantes Tecos and Toluca.
Seven different teams have won championships in the past 10 seasons, but the front-runners again should include the four traditional powers: Cruz Azul, Pumas, Guadalajara Chivas, America - and then add in Monterrey.
Benitez scored 51 goals in 85 games since joining Santos in 2007 from Birmingham in the English Premier League.
''I always said going to Europe was a good option but it did not come off and the offer came in from America, which is a good team and a good institution,'' Benitez said.
Like most leagues in Latin America, Mexico is divided into the Apertura (Opening) and Clausura (Closing) seasons with a champion crowned in each half.
America's weak defense, rather than scoring, was its downfall last season. The Mexico City club could have even more problems following the move of Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa to French team Ajaccio.
America's great rival, Guadalajara Chivas, which fields only Mexican nationals, is going down a different route. Chivas will again rely on the club's youth academy after having done very little in the transfer market.
''We reached the semifinals last season and we believe we can count on an interesting team that can do a good job,'' said Rafael Ortega, president of sport for the 11-time league champions.
Defending champion Pumas has also been quiet in the transfer market and is counting on a similar blend of youth and experience that brought them the 2011 Clausura title. Pumas will rely even more heavily on youth as an experienced pair of Mexican international midfielders were sold: Leandro Augusto to Club Tijuana and Israel Castro to Cruz Azul.
CONCACAF Champions League winner Monterrey should be stronger with the signing of former Cruz Azul favorite Cesar Delgado from French side Lyon. The northern team has won two of the past four first-division titles and can again count on free-scoring Chile striker Humberto Suazo.
Eight-time league winner Cruz Azul has been close to the championship in recent years but has not managed to lift the league trophy since 1997. Cruz Azul's most notable signings include Israel Castro from Pumas and Gerry Flores from Atlas. The team will start the season without Mexico goalkeeper Jesus Corona and captain Christan Gimenez. Both were suspended for the first six games due to their role in a mass brawl, involving punches and head-butts, in the semifinal of the Clausura 2011 against Morelia.
It is notoriously difficult to make predictions in the Mexican league. The volatility is due to the playoff system and offseason moves. Puebla has brought in 18 new players while Estudiantes Tecos have 11 new faces.
Puebla made headlines with its transfers, especially that of Luis Garcia. The 33-year-old Spaniard was a free agent after playing for Panathinaikos in Greece last season. American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, 29, joined from German side Hannover. Both have represented their countries in World Cups and are high-profile signings for a side that failed to make the playoffs in the 2011 Clausura.
Estudiantes Tecos has brought in a raft of experienced players, including 29-year-old U.S. international Herculez Gomez.
A new rule for the 2011 Apertura season scraps the three-group system for a less complicated one, in which the top eight teams in the standings automatically qualify for the postseason playoffs.
Relegation in Mexico is based on results across three years with one team being relegated to the Liga de Ascenso every year.
Those likely to be in the fight to stave off relegation over the Apertura and Clausura seasons are Queretaro, Estudiantes Tecos, Jaguares de Chiapas and Atlas.
Atlante, 2011 Clausura finalist Morelia, San Luis, Pachuca, Tigres, Toluca and Santos should make up the middle of the table but perhaps lack the firepower to be one of the favorites.
Promoted Club Tijuana has invested heavily in players including ex-Pumas Leandro Augusto, Colombian striker Dayro Moreno and Jose Sand, twice the top scorer in Argentina.
The team survived a scandal in early June when the alleged owner of the club, Jorge Hank Rhon, was arrested by the Mexican military for illegal possession of firearms.
There were calls for Tijuana to be kicked out the first division until one of Hank Rhon's 19 children, Jorge Alberto Hank Inzunza, was identified as the official owner of the club.
On Saturday, it is: Tijuana vs. Morelia, Pachuca vs. Santos, Tigres vs. Cruz Azul, Atlas vs. Puebla and Atlante vs. Chivas.
On Sunday, it is: Pumas vs. San Luis, America vs. Queretaro and Jaguares vs. Monterrey.
