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Atlante are the new champions of North America, the first winners of the CONCACAF Champions League, and the recipients of an oversized fern and a trip to the UAE. The Mexican clubs dominated this tournament, as all four entrants progressed to the knockout stage and were only knocked out by each other. These four sides weren't even playing close to their best form for at least half of the season -- during the Apertura they were, but definitely not during the Clausura. In the end it came down to which Mexican side was the last standing, and that was Atlante. First they benefited from Pumas, the only side that was able to maintain playoff-caliber form, being defeated by Cruz Azul. Then, they came from behind on two occasions to knock out the strongest of the remaining teams in Santos Laguna. Finally, Pereyra and Márquez Lugo combined to effectively knock out Cruz Azul in the first leg.
Atlante aren't without their flaws, and they were fortunate in the order of their opponents. But they defeated all of the teams set before them, and they will get to measure themselves against the other five continental champions (plus the UAE champion).
There's a lot more to write about regarding the recently completed Champions League, such as the relative performance of the domestic leagues, the organization of the tournament, and an attempt at a Best XI. Watch this space.
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