Last time round, the CONCACAF Champions League served up surprise after surprise. Although in the end, the Mexican clubs continued their domination, teams from traditionally less-successful countries like Puerto Rico and Canada deservedly made it through to the latter stages.

For the 2009/10 tournament, however, normal service has been resumed. Each of Mexico's four representatives in the competition topped their group, and will be joined in the quarter-finals by sides from Honduras, Guatemala, the USA and Panama. 

Group A: Canaleros spring surprise
With a large and highly-talented squad, Mexican side Pachuca were clear favourites to top Group A, and Los Tuzos did not disappoint. The only surprise was their comprehensive 4-1 defeat to Panamanians Arabe Unido in their opening match, but the Mexicans came back strongly, winning their five remaining games.

The real surprise was caused by Los Canaleros who built on their win over the Mexican giants to claim second place. MLS side Houston Dynamo had qualification in their own hands going into the final matchday, but a disappointing reverse against bottom team Isidro Metapan of El Salvador dashed all hopes of progression.     

Group B: Down to the wire
Group B saw Toluca, another Mexican giant, claim top spot, although not as comfortably as predicted. With one game to go, Los Diablos Rojos, Honduran side Marathon and America's DC United were all battling for a place in the last eight.

Without playing to their full potential, the Mexicans secured the point they needed to ensure qualification in a 1-1 draw at home to United. Marathon won the second qualifying spot after a 4-2 win over Jabloteh of Trinidad and Tobago, who lost all six of their matches.

Group C: Celestes cruise into quarters
Group C contained what has been the strongest and only unbeaten team in the competition so far: Mexico's Cruz Azul, who eased in the quarter-finals after five wins and a draw.    

Far behind them, Columbus Crew and Costa Rica's Saprissa were fighting it out for second place. Having achieved an impressive 1-0 win at the famous Ricardo Saprissa Stadium, the Americans claimed second place to become the only MLS representatives in this year's quarter-finals.

Group D: Youth wins the day
With a team made up almost entirely of young home-grown players, UNAM Pumas made it four Mexican group winners out of four, clinching top spot without undue difficulty. The Mexican champions won four of their six games, including resounding wins over Real Espana of Honduras (4-0 at home and 5-1 away).    

Guatemala's Comunicaciones finished second after an excellent 2-1 win over the Pumas in their final game, meaning that W Connection's 3-2 defeat of Real Espana was ultimately in vain for the Trinidadians.

So after a thrilling group stage, the biggest club tournament for North America, Central America and the Caribbean now takes a break. The eight remaining teams will be back in action in March 2010 to decide who will inherit Atlante's crown of continental champions and earn a place at the FIFA Club World Cup.