Mexican football final and bullfight share time

Cheers of "Ole Ole" are sure to be reverberating around the south side of Mexico City on Sunday.

On one side of the street is Cruz Azul Stadium, where Mexico's first-division title will be decided between Cruz Azul and Monterrey. On the other is the famous Monumental Plaza Mexico, which will be hosting a bullfight _ the sixth in a highly publicized series.

"Room for Everybody," was how a headline in the sports newspaper "Ovaciones" described the Sunday doubleheader.

With apologies to top-draw matadors Rafael Ortega and Manolo Martinez, Cruz Azul and Monterrey will receive most of the attention.

The slight favorite is Cruz Azul, a not entirely comfortable position. One of the big four clubs in Mexico, Cruz Azul has been in two of the last three finals _ and lost both _ and hasn't won a title in 12 years.

"For us, it's not the third final," said Alberto Quintano, the sporting director of the Mexico City club. "We think of it as the first final."

The difference this time might be highly experienced coach Enrique Meza, who was hired after last season. Meza has won three titles with Toluca and one with Pachuca. But in three previous stints as Cruz Azul's manager, he failed to bring it titles.

"It means a lot because I was raised as a player and manager in Cruz Azul and I would love nothing more than to give them a championship," Meza said. "I arrived here when I was 18 years old, I became a man here."

Cruz Azul defeated Morelia 2-1 on aggregate in the two-leg semifinals.

Monterrey eliminated Toluca 3-1 on aggregate in the other semi. Toluca had the best regular season record, but scored only twice in four playoff games after notching 32 in 17 regular season matches.

The two-game final opens on Thursday in Monterrey.

"The two teams are very even, but we have the advantage of having the first game at home," Monterrey's William Paredes said. "This is the key to being in good position going into Cruz Azul's stadium."

Observers say Monterrey is playing "inspired football," and no doubt the inspiration is coming from former player Antonio De Nigris, who died last month of a heart attack in Greece, where he played for Larissa.

Monterrey's leader has been De Nigris' brother Aldo, who has scored key goals in Monterrey's run. He teams up with Chile international Huberto Suazo. It may be the last match for highly rated Suazo, who is reported ready to move to Europe.

Monterrey has won only two titles, the last in 2003 under Argentine coach Daniel Passarella. This time the coach is Victor Manuel Vucetich. He's coached three finals with three different teams, and won them all.

Mexican football is a carousel.

Cruz Azul or Monterrey will be the seventh different champion in seven seasons. In the last 26 seasons, only one team _ Pumas _ has managed to win back-to-back titles. No team dominates the way Manchester United or Real Madrid or Bayern Munich have in their leagues.

Like most Latin American countries, Mexico divides the season into two parts; the Apertura, Spanish for opening; and the Clausura, which means closing. In Mexico, this means there's an Apertura champion in December and a Clausura champion in the spring.

This makes for two short regular seasons, no dominant team and a lottery when a playoff system is added to the mix.

No bull.