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By Edgardo Avelar

Twice denied after reaching the CONCACAF Champions League finals, Cruz Azul is operating under the belief that the third time is the charm.

With the bitter taste of losing finals against Atlante and Pachuca the past two seasons, "Los Celestes" are ready to fight for the title.

While "La Maquina" may no longer be able to rely on midfielder and team leader Christian Riveros, who recently transferred to Sunderland in the English Premier League, the team has added Mexican 2006 World Cup veteran Gonzalo Pineda.
Pineda is the only significant acquisition so far this season, with Cruz Azul deciding to forge ahead with its base from the previous season.

The 27-year-old Riveros will be a notable loss. A member of Paraguay's 2007 Copa America side, Riveros played over 100 matches in midfield for Cruz Azul in three seasons, scoring 17 goals. He scored five goals in 20 games over the past two Champions League seasons.

Cruz Azul will try to rely on goalkeeper Jes??s Corona, the return of injured defenders Horacio Cervantes and Joel Huiqui, who missed the end of last season, as well as the attacking ability of its Argentine trio Emmanuel Villa, Maximiliano Biancucchi and Christian "Chaco" Gim??nez.

Gimenez will be eligible to play with Cruz Azul in the Champions League seven months after joining the club. He was unable to assist his new club in the knockout rounds this past spring due to being "cup-tied" after playing the Group Stage with Pachuca.
The club also is hoping defender Edcarlos Conceicao can fulfill expectations. The 25-year-old Brazilian has played nine games so far on loan from Portuguese club Benfica after last-year's loan at Fluminense.

Cruz Azul is confident of resuming its role as a perennial Mexican power, coached by Enrique Meza, who has a wealth of experience in international competition -- as a coach with Toluca, Toros Neza, Pachuca, Atlas and Morelia but also during his time as a goalkeeper with Cruz Azul.

For the third year in a row, "Los Celestas" will be forced to start in the Preliminary Round. The first season it routed Belizean side Hankook Verdes in a pair of 6-0 victories, and last year it beat Herediano 6-2 in Costa Rica before clinching its advancement with a 0-0 draw at home. Again it will open away, this year at San Francisco of Panama on July 27 before returning for the second leg on August 3.

The Champions League is only one of Cruz Azul's sore spots. The loss in May's Champions League title series was the latest in the club's five consecutive defeats in finals - a string "La Maquina" would like to end.