The Mexican soccer league is often defined by its derbies, and the Clásico Tapatío between Atlas and Guadalajara is no exception. This historic rivalry has been played for over a hundred years and holds great significance to both sides due to the intense passion and pride at stake. While both these teams are based in Guadalajara, Mexico, they represent different social classes and different neighborhoods. Hence, this derby goes beyond football, with the whole city divided.
Mario Méndez, a former Atlas defender, vividly remembers how the Clásico Tapatío divided the heart of his family. Coming from a family where half supports Atlas and half supports Chivas, Méndez lived the rivalry between these two teams to the fullest. Despite being an Atlas fan himself because of his uncle’s debut for the team years ago, he claims that he was never pressured to follow any particular team in his family.
For Méndez’s family, this rivalry is only sporting and is not taken seriously; otherwise, it would hurt family ties. Hence, even though Méndez’s elder family members are all Chivas supporters and there is a lot of banter between them when either team loses a game, it never results in anger or division.
The upcoming Clásico Tapatío between Atlas vs Guadalajara in Liga MX is expected to be one of the most significant matches of the season as both teams have something to play for. While Atlas has one outside chance of entering playoffs with 20 points currently at hand and six points behind eighth-place Santos, a win would go a long way in determining if they can advance further. On the other hand, Guadalajara is almost guaranteed to enter the playoffs and is currently in 7th place on the Liga MX table with 21 points. A win against Atlas could tie them with Leon in second place.
Previous meetings between Atlas and Chivas have seen Chivas emerge victorious on 14 occasions out of 27, while Atlas has only won six times. Moreover, there have been nine red cards in previous games, making this one of the most heated derbies of Mexican soccer.
The Clásico Tapatío features great players from both sides, like Coyote, “El Cabrito,” Ramón Ramírez, Peláez, Luis García, Claudio Suárez, Tiburón, Camilo, Darío Franco, Tapita García, Daniel Guzmán, Juan Carlos Chávez and Jafet Soto. These players will be key in helping their respective teams come out victorious.
Atlas had a shaky start to the season but has improved dramatically recently by winning three of their last five games. Their recent victory against Puebla was their best performance of the Liga MX season so far. However, Guadalajara has shown some inconsistency throughout the season and has conceded 13 goals so far.
As per Méndez’s opinion on playing for Chivas or Atlas – he never considered playing for Chivas as his dream had always been to play for Atlas. However, he believes that all professional soccer players should prioritize their economic and professional stability above everything else. In these difficult times when retiring is not a desirable option for players, they must choose teams that provide them with consistent playing time and a chance to grow in their careers.
Not only the Clásico Tapatío but Matchday 13 features several crucial matches with only five games left in the regular season phase. Teams like Club León will face América at the Azteca, trying to secure a top four finish, while Pumas is aiming for a top 12 finish to make it to the playoffs. Mazatlán is still mathematically in with a chance of progressing to the postseason despite being at the bottom of the Liga MX table. Toluca, Pachuca, Tigres and Chivas will fight for a top four placing.
In conclusion, The Clásico Tapatío remains one of the most significant rivalries not just in Mexican soccer but also globally. With both Atlas and Guadalajara being based in Guadalajara, this derby goes beyond football, with the whole city divided between two teams. The upcoming match between these two classic teams will undoubtedly be a spectacle not to be missed by football enthusiasts worldwide.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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