With the New Year comes new beginnings as Atlante FC and Estudiantes Tecos look to start 2010 off on the right foot with their opening match of InterLiga 2010 at Robertson Stadium on Saturday.
While both teams have made some roster adjustments in the offseason both will be keen on opening group play and the new year with a very important three points in their first match.
Atlante returns to the continent relatively fresh off its performance in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they ultimately finished in fourth place. The Cancun-based team opened with a 3-0 victory against Auckland City FC, earning a semifinal showdown with European champions Barcelona. A 3-1 loss to the Spanish powerhouse relegated the CONCACAF champions to the third-place match, however, where they fell to Asian champions Pohang Steelers on penalty kicks, 4-3.</p>
Aside from the team's victory in the CONCACAF Champions League, Atlante had to feel disappointed with it's 2009 season. Atlante finished third in its group in Apertura 2009 and failed to qualify for Liguilla Apertura 2009. </p>
However, Rafael Márquez Lugo's nine goals in Apertura give the team hope for a productive Interliga and 2010 Clausura. Venezuelan Giancarlo Maldonado appears set to return to Atlante after a spell with Xerez in Spain. It was Maldonado who played a large role in the team's 2007 Apertura championship, scoring eighteen goals. He may be partnered up top with Peruvian Johan Fano, who joins Atlante from Colombian side Once Caldas.
Atlante have also lost some key players this offseason. Diego Cervantes has left to join Monterrey on loan and Lucas Silva, who scored in the Club World Cup, has left to join Veracruz. Gabriel Pereyra has also departed to Morelia. </p>
As for Estudiantes Tecos, they are bolstered by the return of Alberto Ramirez, who was on loan in Finland to FC Inter Turku, and Chilean striker Roberto Guttierez, who was on loan in Chile. However, there have also been losses in the offseason, including the departure of Carlos Morales to Santos and Bruno Marioni to retirement. </p>
These two teams faced off on two occasions last year. In Clausura 2009, Atlante fell on the road to Tecos in April 2-1. A Fredy José Bariero goal opened scoring for Estudiantes Tecos before Giancarlos Maldonado responded for Atlante. However, Carlos Morales and Tecos got the last word as Morales converted a 65th-minute penalty to give Tecos the win. In Apertura 2009, Tecos and Atlante played to a 0-0 draw in Cancun on Nov. 14.
Dwain Capodice is a contributor to InterLiga.com.
