Atlas exceeded expectations in the Clausura 2017 tournament, finishing in sixth with 26 points, getting knocked out in the quarterfinals by rivals Chivas of Guadalajara. Los Rojinegros have improved their squad in this offseason and will be looking to make the playoffs once again under Jose Guadalupe Cruz.
The team from Guadalajara will not only look to compete for the title in this upcoming season but are in a tricky situation, currently sixteenth on the relegation table just two points ahead of Veracruz. “El Profe” Cruz will have the responsibility of fighting for the title and avoiding relegation, which are both accolades he has already done in his extensive managerial career. Cruz has ensured that Atlas will go into the Apertura 2017 with a more competitive squad with the vital signing of Milton Caraglio from Club Tijuana.
Atlas had one of the best strikers in the Liga MX Clausura 2017, in Matias Alustiza, who scored eight goals during the regular season and a goal in the playoffs against Chivas of Guadalajara. It is unclear if Alustiza will stay consistent for the upcoming season as he is now 33 years old but the recent acquisition of Milton Caraglio has added depth and security to the attacking options the team has. The front trio of Alustiza, Caraglio and Fidel Martinez should be one of the most potent in the Liga MX and should make Atlas a very competitive team.
Jose Guadalupe Cruz did have a pair of other intriguing signings like Uvaldo Luna and Patrick Soko. Luna came as a loan from Tigres UANL but spent 2016 on loan with Colombian team Patriotas, where he had a very successful spell scoring eight goals. Soko is an even more interesting case as he is a 20-year-old Cameroonian striker coming over from Cibao FC in the Dominican Republic. A young African player, Clifford Aboagye worked out for Atlas in the Clausura 2017 and “El Profe” has rolled the dice and will be looking for a similar effort by Soko in this upcoming tournament.
Much like these signings, Atlas is also a roll of the dice in this upcoming season as it has the talent to contend for the title but can also fall into a deep relegation battle if it fails to perform.
