Argentine midfielder Marcelo Carracedo, after several seasons playing in Germany and Austria, joined the club becoming its fourth foreign player.

Miguel Ángel López would replace Pedro García who had led Santos to the 1993–94 Mexican Primera División season final.

Each club was experiencing a transitional stage with three new managers (López, León's Roberto Saporiti and Atlas' Marcelo Bielsa), new transfers and the exodus of their best players.

The squad also struggled offensively with only Colombian striker Miguel Asprilla regularly performing at a high level.

It was the midfield and in particular Benjamín Galindo that helped the unbalanced squad finish top of Group 4 and classify directly to the play-off quarterfinals.