Pachuca's American trio of Jose Torres, Herculez Gomez and Marco Vidal open the 2010 Apertura at home versus America while Edgar Castillo makes his debut for San Luis versus Monterrey.
Pachuca – America
Pachuca will begin their season trying to repeat and improve on last season's success, when they host league rival America on Saturday.
Jose Torres will be joined by fellow Americans Herculez Gomez and Marco Vidal, on loan from Indios, in Pachuca's journey to win the Apertura 2010.
Torres is expected to start, while Gomez and Vidal will hope to see minutes off the bench as they gradually work their way onto head coach Guillermo Rivarola's lineup.
Pachuca will play an always dangerous America team, headed by Mexican national team goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
America will be improved by the new addition of Matías Vuoso and will be lead by new head coach Manuel Lapuente.
San Luis – Monterrey
Edgar Castillo will look to make an impact with his new team, San Luis, as they host Monterrey on Saturday.
Castillo, who first became known for his excellent runs and goal scoring prowess with Santos Laguna, the team with which he debuted, has not been able to regain his form since being purchased by Club America in 2009.
His play with America disappointed and he was sent on loan to Tigres, where he was unable to make a sizable impression on the brass at the suburban Monterrey club.
He has now joined San Luis, on loan, where he will look to contribute and make his way back onto the radar of US national team head coach Bob Bradley.
San Luis will have a difficult task ahead of them as they face an always powerful Monterrey team that has been improved by the additions of recent World Cup veterans, Mexican national team defender Roberto Osorio and Chilean national team attacker, Humberto Suarez.
Suarez returns to the team after a season in which he was sent on loan to Spanish club Real Zaragoza following Monterrey's championship run in 2009.
Estudiantes – Cruz Azul
Estudiantes will host perennial league powerhouse, Cruz Azul this Friday night to open the Apertura 2010.
Estudiantes, led by led by new head coach Miguel Herrera, will look to start the season with a win after having underperformed in the past several years.
American Sammy Ochoa will try start of the season by setting a positive note for his new coach as he attempts to gain more minutes after seeing the field sparingly in the past two tournaments.
Ochoa and Estudiantes will take on a Cruz Azul team desperate for a championship after consistently reaching the playoffs only to disappoint in important matches.
Dangerous players like Gerardo Torrado and Emmanuel Villa will definitely provide a stern test for the Estudiantes defense.
Atlante – Santos
Atlante will host Santos Laguna this Sunday to open the Apertura 2010.
American forward, Sonny Guadarrama was recently acquired by Atlante after a successful showing with second division team, Mérida, and will look to make an impact on his new team.
He will be faced with considerable internal competition from Johan Fanon, who tied Herculez Gomez in goals last season, and new arrivals Ulisis Mendevil, formerly of Pachuca, and recent MLS castoff Luis Angel Landin.
Atlante will play a tradionally dangerous Santos squad led by veterans Darwin Quintero and Edgar Ludueña. |
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