Mexican football is a merry-go-round of different champions, so even though Toluca is the favorite when the Apertura season opens on Friday that may not count for much.
Like most Latin American countries, Mexico divides the season into two parts: the Apertura - Spanish for opening - and the Clausura, which means closing.
Toluca is the defending champion of the Clausura tournament, which ended in May, and many are picking the club to triumph again. If it does, it will be the first club since Pumas in 2004 to win back-to-back titles. Since that double, eight different clubs have won either the Clausura or Apertura titles.
In that span, Toluca has won three titles - more than anyone else - which has moved it among Mexico's elite clubs. Chivas Guadalajara leads with 11 titles overall, while America and Toluca have 10.
Toluca has essentially the same team that won in May. It also has one of Mexico's most highly respected coaches in Jose Manuel de la Torre, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to take over Mexico's national team following the resignation of Javier Aguirre after the World Cup.
"Finishing as champion is the goal. I take it as a personal challenge," said midfielder Antonio Naelson. "We want to start as well as possible. If we did it once we can do it again because we are a good team and injury free."
Monterrey, America and Cruz Azul are likely to be Toluca's main challengers.
Monterrey, which won the Apertura a year ago, has much the same team, with coach Victor Manuel Vucetich returning. It will be strengthened by the return of Chilean striker Humberto Suazo after a six-month loan to Spain's Zaragoza. The club has also signed defender Ricardo Osorio.
"I always try to do things right," Suazo said. "This will be no exception. I'm relaxed and happy to be back and eager to show the fans I have more to give."
America has a new coach in Manuel Lapuente, replacing Jesus Ramirez, and a new striker in Matias Vuoso, who will try to make up for the absence of Salvador Cabanas. Cabanas survived a gunshot wound to the head six months ago in a Mexico City bar, but has not returned to the pitch.
"We have some great players," Colombian defender Aquivaldo Mosquera said. "You'll see it in every game."
Cruz Azul, which plays the curtain raiser of the new season on Friday at Estudiantes of Guadalajara, had an unsuccessful Clausura. Despite this, the club has made few changes, with the main addition being midfielder Gonzalo Pineda from San Luis.
Cruz Azul has been close to adding to its haul of eight titles in recent seasons, and was the losing finalist in three of the last five championships.
"Nothing bad lasts for 100 years and at any time were are going to break this bad run," Argentine forward Emanuel Villa said.
Chivas, Mexico's most popular team, looks weak. Top goalscorer Javier Hernandez has moved to Manchester United while Omar Bravo, another scoring threat and the No. 2 goalscorer in the club's history, has signed for Kansas City of the MLS. Striker Omar Arellano will be looked to for goals.
Hernandez, nicknamed "Chicharito," scored 10 goals last season, the joint most alongside Herculez Gomez of the U.S. and Johan Fano.
"With Chicharito gone, we have tried to think in the medium-term," said coach Jose Luis Real. "It will probably cost us in the short-term, but our young players are top quality."
On Friday, Estudiantes plays Cruz Azul in the first of the weekend's matches.
On Saturday it's: Chiapas vs. Necaxa, Guadalajara vs. Puebla, Pachuca vs. America, Tigres vs. Queretaro, San Luis vs. Monterrey, Atalante vs. Santos.
On Sunday, Morelia takes on Atlas and Pumas hosts Toluca.
