Mexico captain Francisco Rodriguez's switch (via a stint in Europe) to the other side will add spice to an already zest rivalry.
The traditional ingredients of Mexico’s clasico between Chivas de Guadalajara and Club America are well-known and the fundamentals of a fierce soccer rivalry.
But despite the emotions involved for fans and players, there haven’t been many classic clasico’s in recent years, with games in recent memory between Chivas and Club America usually drab or one-way affairs that have failed to live up to the expectations.
On Sunday, that could change with plenty of reasons to think that the game in the Estadio Omnilife will be an open, attacking match with Mexico’s best-supported clubs going for the jugular.
For a start, both teams are right in the playoff fight, with a Chivas win on Sunday taking the Guadalajara club to within just two points of its Mexico City rival. That’s motivation to go out on the offense, and talk from the Chivas camp suggests it will do just that.
“I think we’ll go toe-to-toe against them, but in the knowledge that we can’t lose concentration,” said midfielder Luis Perez on Thursday.
America’s outlook is attacking by its very nature and talk on the other side of Mexico’s footballing divide suggests that the Aguilas too will go all-out for a victory that would severely dent Chivas’ playoff hopes.
“More than saying it is forbidden to lose, winning is obligatory,” America sporting director is quoting as saying in Record.
The pre-match needle has also already started, with players hyping up what is already an intense rivalry.
“I’ve always said it, I’m anti-America,” Chivas striker Miguel Sabah told Guadalajara reporters on Thursday, making sure newspaper editors are not short of a front page headline for Thursday morning editions.
He added: “Obviously these are games where it is them or you, so you defend your side.”
For the Aguilas, Argentine Rubens Sambueza has dismissed Chivas’ home advantage out of hand.
