Mexico's Big Four will rule again, but surprise awaits

Pumas and Cruz Azul both came up short in InterLiga, but should be major factors in the race for the Clausura '08 title. AP

MAILBAG Grant Wahl will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

For the first time in Mexican First Division history, the trophy sits in one of the country's most well-known resort towns.

Atlante claimed the Apertura 2007 title in the club's first season in Cancún. After bolting from Mexico City -- where the club was an afterthought -- Atlante surprised all comers and walked through the league relatively unscathed while building up a strong fan base.

Now, the 17 other First Division clubs have what many around the world also possess: envy of Cancún's finest. While Atlante tries to become just the second team in the past 23 seasons to repeat as Mexican league champions, the rest of the league will seek to strip Cancún of one of its jewels.

Here's a look at what the Clausura '08 may hold:

Best additions

Scoring goals wasn't Atlas' biggest problem a year ago, but the club needed a dependable goal scoring threat to play alongside Bruno Marioni. Enter Jorge Achucarro.

The Paraguayan ace joined Atlas from Cerro Porteño and made an immediate impact, scoring a pair of goals in a 3-0 InterLiga win over San Luis to propel the club into a play-in series for the Copa Libertadores. Marioni, who also scored in that game, had 10 goals a season ago, but no other player scored more than two.

Cruz Azul, meanwhile, needed to replace one of its best strikers in recent years and plucked Nicolas Vigneri from Uruguayan side Peñarol. Vigneri also used InterLiga as preparation for the upcoming season and scored a goal for his new club. With more time to gel with his teammates and familiarize himself with the Mexican league, Vigneri could become as profound of a scorer as his predecessor, César "Chelito" Delgado.

Offense, however, was not on Club América's mind when the team brought in Sebastián Domínguez from Argentine side Estudiantes. With Ricardo Rojas back in his native Chile and Duilio Davino jumping to FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, América needed experience on the back line. Enter Domínguez, who won league titles in Argentina (with Newell's Old Boys) as well as Brazil (with Corinthians). América's defense is not necessarily the club's strength -- las Águilas yielded six goals in four InterLiga matches -- but Domínguez's addition should help stabilize the back line.

Biggest losses

A mainstay with Toluca since 2001, striker Vicente Sánchez's days at the Nemesio Díez are over. German side Schalke snapped him up for days before the start of the Clausura '08 season. The Uruguayan, who scored 85 goals in 13 seasons with Toluca, was one of the league's best forwards and a key part of Toluca's squad.

The scoring pressure will fall squarely on Christian Giménez's shoulders. With one season in Mexico under his belt, the former FC Basel scoring ace needs to recreate his magic with Toluca for the club to have a fighting chance.

Like Sánchez, Cruz Azul's Delgado is another Europe-bound ace as the Argentine is now property of Olympique Lyon. Cruz Azul, though, seems capable of absorbing his absence. With Vigneri and youngster César Villaluz in tow, la Máquina has pieces to build a formidable attack.

While Sánchez and Delgado will earn their paychecks overseas, América's Federico Insúa is still on the books. However, a torn knee ligament will render "El Pocho" useless for the Clausura '08. Though he scored just two goals in his first season in Mexico, the Argentine was one of the club's bright spots and his absence will be felt.

Meanwhile, Atlante may have won the league title, but one of its own was relegated. Former MLS player Alain Nkong was banished to León of Mexico's second division, having been sent out on loan after Nkong joined Cameroon for the African Cup of Nations. Nkong scored four goals in his first season in Mexico and was a valuable piece of Atlante's title-winning side. Now, León should the distinction of having a Cameroonian international on its roster.

1 of 2