He Mexican classicThe years go by, Mexican soccer evolves, teams come and go, but what doesn’t change is the rivalry between America y Guadalajarathe most popular and most successful teams in our country; but why are these clubs starring in the most important match in the country?
1- The biggest winners
With the recent second championship, América extended its advantage over Chivas in terms of titles, the Rebaño Sagrado stayed with 12, while the Águilas can now boast 15 championships in their showcases.
Carlos Reinoso: “Chivas is not a big team now. We are above them.”
2- The one with the highest rating
Although there are several Clásicos in Mexican soccer, the match between América and Chivas is the one that generates the most ratings in each tournament. In the previous tournament, as in all of them, it dominated television with 7.3 million people; well above the Clásicos Capitalino and Joven 61 and 5.5 rating.
3- The one with the highest attendance
The regular phase of the previous tournament ended with América registering a total of 295,136 spectators, while Chivas did so with 290,357 attendees, being the match between these clubs with the highest attendance with 62,514 fans.
4- Brawl in the 1982-83 Season
The 1982-83 Season’s Semi-Final Second Leg became controversial due to the impressive brawl between players from both clubs, in which the police had to intervene to stop the fight, and Chivas was greatly weakened by the expulsions that caused it to lose the Final against Puebla.
5- The most requested by the press
Every time América and Chivas face each other in the week before the match, requests for accreditation to cover the match increase by 50% compared to regular matches; even non-sports media are interested in covering it.
At Chivas: “There were no requests from La Sabrosita de Tijuana, the Colima newspaper, non-sports media that normally do not cover us were interested in accreditation for that match.”
In America: “I think it will increase by more or less 30-50%; it also depends on the sporting moment that the teams are going through, but it is certain that the number of applications will always increase.”
6- Narrating goals in a Classic is another thing
For sports writers, narrating a National Classic is always different. It is the game they have been looking forward to since they are in the booths, and even more so, shouting a goal in an América against Chivas match will always be the highlight of the tournament.
Andrés Vaca: “To narrate a national classic for all of Mexico is the most aspiring thing for a football commentator; it is the dream of all of us who commentate. It is the most watched match of the season and being part of it is the greatest honor one can receive.
In my case, knowing that I will be giving voice to that game, together with my broadcast colleagues, reminds me of that dream I had since I was a child and fills me with pride and a lot of responsibility.”
7- Resale makes its August
You would think that the match between America and Chivas is the most anticipated by fans, however, there is a sector that yearns for and values the week of the National Classic more, the Resellers, who increase the original ticket price by up to 300%.
Scalper: “That week is the best of the whole tournament, people pay whatever they want for the Classic and even more if the teams are in good shape. During that week, tickets sell out in a matter of hours and then they come to us and we have raised their prices to triple their cost and they always sell out.”
8- Former footballers always warm up
During the week of the National Classic, those who were once protagonists of this match often venture into the microphones; the former players of both teams do not hold anything back.
America
Cuauhtémoc Blanco: “Chivas is always behind the biggest club in Mexico.”
Rubens Sambueza: “Chivas fans don’t matter at all.”
Mateus Uribe: “The truth is that since I arrived here at América, Chivas has always been out of the Liguilla, they haven’t fought for anything and for us it’s more of a classic Cruz Azul or Pumas, because the truth is that Chivas has always been out of the eight.”
Chivas
Jorge Vergara: “I don’t bet anymore because the people from América are very stingy and cheap.”
Adolfo Bautista: “I can’t believe it, another dead person talking about my Chivas. We Mexicans are taking away the hunger of this idiot (Roger Mtz). You’re stealing like that, dead.”
Chava Reyes: “I can’t remember, because I was the one who scored the most goals against América, I scored 14.”
9- International reach
The attendance record for a match between América and Chivas is 87,000, held at the Rose Bowl in California; no other Liga MX team has come close to that figure in a game played overseas; only the Spanish Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid has been able to sell that number of tickets in the United States.
Oscar Ruggeri: “Mexico’s ‘Clásico Nacional’ is more passionate than Spain’s.”
10- Players who have played for both clubs
It is becoming more and more common to see players moving from one club to another, however, at one time it was forbidden and almost a sin to defend the colours of one’s bitter rival, although there have been several who have embodied the rivalry from both sides.
Isaac Terrazas: “America’s jersey is made of silk; Chivas’ is made of polyester.”
Oswaldo Sánchez: “The Chivas jersey is sacred because they are playing with pure Mexicans and not asking for help from foreigners.”
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