El Clásico Nacional explained 

In the beautiful game, the match that faces off 2 great teams against one another in the same competition is known as a classic. This rivalry between the 2 teams usually goes back many years, and is usually between clubs from the same country, although the term can also refer to a match between teams, which throughout history have had to face each other on multiple occasions and, therefore, a great rivalry has arisen, considering a match between them a true ‘clasico del mundo futbolístico’.

Sometimes the rivalry between the teams goes beyond the sporting sphere and can even have other connotations, such as cultural or political ones. As is the case when Chivas and America face off, the peoples team vs the establishment. One formed from the struggle and the other ‘a billetazos’. 

The ‘Clasico’ is much more than just a football match, it is the moment when thousands of fans gather to witness how the impossible metamorphizes into reality.

The first match played between Chivas and America dates back to October 10, 1926, a tour that the Cremas travelled to the capital of Jalisco to play a series of 3 games. The first match, played in Guadalajara, ended in a draw, 1-1, with goals by "Chato" Aceves on behalf of Guadalajara and Guillermo Hyder on behalf of America.

A day later, on Monday, October 11, at the Paradero, the teams faced off again, this time 2-1 in favor of Guadalajara. The game started in favor of the Capitalinos via Ignacio de la Garza, but a few minutes later the tie would come on a penalty scored by Juan Satusregui. Anastasio Prieto would score the winning goal before the game’s end.

La tercera fue la vencida when they met for the third time on October 12, 1926. Once again Guadalajara won 2-1, with Cortina and Prieto scoring for the Rojiblancos and Rafael Garza Gutierrez scoring a penalty for the Cremas.

The first recorded official match was held on August 1, 1943, a Copa Mexico tournament game where the Rojiblancos defeated the Azulcremas by a score of 1-0.

Still it would take 2 more decades of head to head competition for the mote ‘Clasico’ to take hold.

The true birth of the Clasico Nacional came in the late 50s when in the 1959-60 season both clubs were competing for the top spots in that tournament. America had consecutively played against the three Tapatio teams and dispatched them in order: Club Oro and Club Atlas were both defeated with an identical 2-0.  

There was a lot expected when the Azulcremas finally faced Club Deportivo Guadalajara on August 5, 1959 at Parque Oblatos. Chivas up to that point had been undefeated. But they too, fell with a heavy 2–0 loss. That’s when everything changed.

At the end of the game against Guadalajara, the coach of the ‘millonarios’ (aka Club America), Fernando Marcos González, declared: "America did not come to Guadalajara to win; that has become routine. We're here to change their long-distance phone number. So my friends you know: every time you want to call Guadalajara dial two zero, two zero, two zero or 20-20-20. Courtesy of America,".

¡¡¡Eso si calo!!! Unknowingly with this statement, Fernando Marcos Gonzalez stoked the flames that awakened the rivalry that still prevails 60 years later.

On Thursday, Chivas and America faced off once again, now in the Semifinal confrontation on to the Copa por Mexico final match. America’s recent dominance over Chivas in league play during the past 2 seasons came to an end with the 4-3 red and white victory.

Still, as in all Clasicos, local or national, the passion that arises when 2 great teams face off is so fervent it is really difficult to predict what the final outcome will be. Especially this time due to the fact that both teams were coming off of the Covid isolation period and from what I have been able to observe, were still a bit rough around the edges.

NOTE: After Fernando Marco’s statement the 2 colossus met again on November 12, 1959 at the Olympic Stadium at Ciudad Universitaria, where the Rebaño beat the Azulcremas by a score of 2-0. Better to walk quietly and carry a big stick.